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Scottish Placenames

From the Pictish ‘Aber’ indicating the joining of two rivers, to Ythan – derived from the Brittonic-Pictish iaith for ‘language’ or ‘talk’ and the Celtic -on ending for ‘water’ – the entries in this compact guide to Scottish placenames note their broad location, original form, the language they are derived from, and any further explanation of their etymology.
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Product information:
  • Publisher: Birlinn
  • Year: 2025
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 160pp
  • Illustrated: No
  • Dimensions: 177x108mm
  • ISBN: 9781780279244
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.1kg
Product code:
542031
Product information
Full publisher description
Names are very important and can unlock vast amounts of information about places and their origins. The placename of Scotland are a goldmine of information about times past and the lives of early inhabitants. The different languages of their origin - Gaelic, Pictish, Cumbric, Old Norse and Old English - reflect the many cultures that have been part of Scotland's story and preserve the memory of those who gave names to the wild and beautiful landscapes in which they lived. Other names date back to prehistoric times and are the only link to a world now lost to us forever.



This comprehensive book features more than 500 placenames and is an essential book for all interested in Scottish history and culture.
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