hydronymy
language
Quick Summary
Hydronymy refers to the names of bodies of water. The term is derived from the Greek word "hydr-" meaning water. These names can be descriptive, indicating a characteristic feature of the water body, or commemorative. For example, the North Sea is a descriptive name, while the naming of places like Constantinople or New York often commemorates people or places. Hydronymy is a branch of onomastics, the study of names, and specifically focuses on the linguistic origins and meanings of water-related place-names.123
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