Kelso

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A market town in the Scottish Borders region of southeastern Scotland, situated where the Tweed and Teviot rivers meet
2. A small historic town in southeastern Scotland, lying in the Scottish Borders near the confluence of two rivers
3. The name of a Scottish town in the Borders, noted for its abbey ruins and its position on the River Tweed

Etymology: Kelso is a town in the Scottish Borders, and its name is Welsh in origin. It began as "Calchvynyð" in Middle Welsh, meaning "lime mountain," a name that reflects the chalk and limestone of the area. Over the centuries the name passed into the local Scots-speaking population's usage and was recorded as "Calchow" before settling into its modern spelling. The name's Welsh roots are a reminder that the Borders were once part of the Brittonic-speaking world, where Welsh and its close relatives were spoken long before Scots and English arrived in the region.