Re: [tied] Re: Pre-Germanic speculation

From: Piotr Gasiorowski
Message: 26756
Date: 2003-10-31

31-10-03 17:25, tgpedersen wrote:

> Bent Jørgensen Stednavneordbogen:
>
>> Als
> 1183 Alsø, *1231 Alsæ, 1245 Alsia (latinised)

This one may come from a common name: Ali or Alli are extremely common
hypocoristic forms of various Norse names in Old Danish (cf. English
Al). A good parallel example is English <Alston>. There are numerous
places so called, and they are known to derive from <Aldwines ~
Ælfre:des ~ Ælfsta:nes ~ Ælfsiges ~ Æþelnoþes ~ ... tu:n>.

>> Mols
> *1231 Mulnæs Sorry, obviously I got that wrong

My guess is *múl-næs 'promontory shaped like a snout or muzzle'. The
word <múli> itself could mean 'headland' figuratively and was frequent
in placenames referring to coastal features (cf. the various Mulls of
Scotland, named by Norsemen).

I'll think about the rest.

Piotr