In case you haven't been able to check the EPNS volumes (including the 2
volume dictionary of English place-name elements that goes with the
series), this looks like Old English waesce "a place for washing (sheep
probably)", or a medieval or modern version of the same.
But there are other possible OE derivations: (ge)waesc "a washing, a flood"
and *waesse "a marshy place" (I'm writing this bit from memory). It
depends on the location/environment and whether you have any early
spellings.
As you may know, there is a mailing list for English place-name queries -
[log in to unmask] - and there is a useful online key to English
place-names, currently under development by the Institute for Name Studies
at the University of Nottingham, at
<http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/research/CENS/about.html>
Jennifer Scherr
Hon Sec, Society for Name Studies in Britain and Ireland
c/o University of Bristol Information Services
--On 10 August 2005 22:06 +0100 Lisa Spurrier <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> You could try the English Place Names Society work for your county if it's
> been published.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "james cricket" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 8:45 PM
> Subject: wash
>
>
> Please can someone tell me the significance of "wash" as in Wash Lane and
> Wash farm?
>
> Dennis Durrant
> www.gorleston-heritage.co.uk
>
>
>
>
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----------------------
Jennifer Scherr
Assistant Director, Public Services
University of Bristol Information Services
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