Re: [tied] Re: Pagan, heathen: Are these lexemes synonyms?
From: P&G Message: 25430 Date: 2003-08-30
> The accepted etymon of "heathen" is indeed "people of the
> heath".
It is still used in that way in England. People from the Black Country town
Short Heath are called Short Heathens, and people from Small Heath are
called Small Heathens.