Language Notes

Element Meaning

Sources

The original is something like *Buadhnaid.: Diack Place-names of Pictland, ii, 123

Aberbuthnot, now Arbuthnot in Kincardineshire, is Aberbothenoth, 1242 (Pont. Eccl. S. Andr.), Abirbuthenoth, Aberbuthenot, 1282/3 (Reg. Arbr.), etc. Here ‘ Bothenoth,’ etc., is the name of the stream close to St. Torannan’s church, and is for the genitive of Buadhnat, ‘little one of virtue’ lit. ‘ little triumph, little virtue’ ; in other words, it was a holy stream possessed of healing power.: Watson 1928, 446

Additional Information

Alternative Forms