Définition :  Angleterre; comté de Northumberland. Autrefois la forteresse romaine Vindolanda, sur le Mur d'Hadrien.

Histoire : 

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Étymologie :

A. Vindolanda : 

* Rivet & Smith, p. 502 : 

Sources : 

- Inscription : RIB 1700 ( = Burn, 1969, N° 172, p. 125), an altar dedicated by the VICANI VINDOLANDESSES (late second or early third century), found at Chesterholm

- Ravenna 107₁₂ ( = R&C 132) : VINDQLANDE.

- ND XL₄₁ : Tribunus cohortis quartae Gallorum; VINDOLANA

For the Vulgar Latin assimilation -ns- > -ss- in the inscription, compare RIB 1905 under BANNA. Ravenna's entry might show V.L -e for -ae, locative, but this case does not appear in its records of Hadrian's Wall forts having singular form, an the -e is probably a simple miscopying of -a. ND's form in -lana might just show V.L assimilation of -nd- > -nn-, of which sporadic instances are known in Imperial times in some regions, including Britain; the assimilation could not be a British one, for this did not occur until the end of the fifth century (Jackson).

DERIVATION. For *uindo-, see VINDOBALA. British *landa may have meant originally, if the Gaulish equivalent is a guide, `terrain plat, peu fertile, couvert de broussailles et de plantes sauvages' (RIO, IX (I957), 35), a sense which survives in French lande `heath' and the well-known Les Landes. The Welsh and Breton derivatives, llan (Irish land), etc., have senses which have evidently evolved via `rough meadow' > 'small enclosed meadow' > 'enclosure' > 'churchyard, church, monastery'. The complete name is unlikely ta have had a sense 'white' in it, but was perhaps 'bright moor' (with heather in flower?) or 'fair moor'.

IDENTIFICATION. The Roman fort at Chesterholm, Northumberland (NY 7766), garrisoned in the third century by Cohors IIII Gallorum (RIB I68S-I688, I705-I706, I7I0).

Note. Vindolanda vicus may have continued, or replaced, a native Curia Tectoverdorum. See the entry for this.

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B. Chesterholm : 

Nos auteurs britanniques de référence concernant la toponymie 'anglaise', Ekwall ni Mills, n'ont pas traité ce nom.

Nous proposons donc, à partir de toponymie camparée : *ceaster = fort, camp (romain) + *holme : île, péninsule, isthme, à partir de la racine en Vieux-scandinave : *holmr, pour désigner un camp bâti sur une langue de terre entourrée d'eau.