Durham
proper noun
- family name
- place name
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.
- A county in the Northeast of England; in full, County Durham.
- A city, the county town of County Durham, England.
- 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.
- An English habitational surname from Old English from the city in England.
- An outback town in Queensland, Australia.
- A locale in Canada.
- A locale in Canada.
- A locale in Canada.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- A locale in the United States.
- 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.
- One of a breed of short-horned cattle, originating in the county of Durham, England, and noted for their beef-producing quality.