Holm

/hoʊm/ noun

Definition

A small island, especially one in a river or near a coast; a piece of low-lying land by water.

Etymology

From Old Norse 'holmr' (small island), brought to England by Viking settlers. Common in Scandinavian place names like Stockholm (island of logs) and used throughout English waterways.

Kelly Says

You can spot Viking influence on maps of England and Scotland just by looking for 'holm' place names—the Orkneys have hundreds, and it shows exactly where Scandinavian settlers lived and named the landscape. It's geography revealing history.

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