Wætlinga-ceaster, f.n: St Albans. (WAET-ling-ga-CHEH-ah-ster / ˈwæt-lɪŋ-ga-ˌtʃɛa-ster)
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Wætlinga-ceaster, f.n: St Albans. (WAET-ling-ga-CHEH-ah-ster / ˈwæt-lɪŋ-ga-ˌtʃɛa-ster)
Old English Wordhord 
As an aside, it’s worth noting that the Latin and later OE versions of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History give the name as Uæclingacæstir and Wæclingaceaster respectively. Instances of the related name Watling Street in OE texts (or at least the charter boundary clauses I’ve seen) show similar alternation between -t- and -c-. Most place-name dictionaries have both deriving from an unattested personal name Wæcel, on the strength of the earliest attestations. Doubtless there’s a phonological explanation for all this and why -t- spellings won out, but I’ve not come across it in anything I’ve read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting, thanks!
LikeLiked by 3 people