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Durham

proper noun

  1. family name
  2. place name
L480890 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈdʌ.ɹəm/ / /ˈdʊ.ɹəm/ / /ˈdɝəm/

name

Etymology: From Old English Dūnholm, which is from dun (“hill”) + Old Norse holm (“islet, island”). In order to get from Dunholm to Durham, two major processes had to take place. Firstly, the n at the coda of the first syllable, dun, underwent dissimilation. Specifically, by influence of the m in the coda of the following syllable (holm), said n denasalised and lenited to the oral r, thus dur. Secondly, after a weakening of the vowel quality in the more weakly-stressed syllable holm, this ending was misanalysed as the similar-sounding toponymic suffix, -ham, meaning home or farm. Doublet of Duresm and Dunelm.

  1. A county in the Northeast of England; in full, County Durham.
  2. A city, the county town of County Durham, England.
  3. A unitary authority of County Durham, which replaced the county council in 2009 in all of County Durham except Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees; in full, Durham County Council.
  4. An English habitational surname from Old English from the city in England.
  5. An outback town in Queensland, Australia.
  6. A locale in Canada.
  7. A locale in Canada.
  8. A locale in Canada.
  9. A locale in the United States.
  10. A locale in the United States.
  11. A locale in the United States.
  12. A locale in the United States.
  13. A locale in the United States.
  14. A locale in the United States.
  15. A locale in the United States.
  16. A locale in the United States.
  17. A locale in the United States.
  18. A locale in the United States.
  19. A locale in the United States.
  20. A locale in the United States.
  21. A locale in the United States.
  22. A locale in the United States.
  23. A locale in the United States.
  24. A locale in the United States.

noun

Etymology: From Old English Dūnholm, which is from dun (“hill”) + Old Norse holm (“islet, island”). In order to get from Dunholm to Durham, two major processes had to take place. Firstly, the n at the coda of the first syllable, dun, underwent dissimilation. Specifically, by influence of the m in the coda of the following syllable (holm), said n denasalised and lenited to the oral r, thus dur. Secondly, after a weakening of the vowel quality in the more weakly-stressed syllable holm, this ending was misanalysed as the similar-sounding toponymic suffix, -ham, meaning home or farm. Doublet of Duresm and Dunelm.

  1. One of a breed of short-horned cattle, originating in the county of Durham, England, and noted for their beef-producing quality.