Peterborough

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A cathedral city in Cambridgeshire in the East Midlands of England, known for its historic Norman cathedral and medieval architecture
2. A historic market town in Cambridgeshire, England, situated on the River Nene and notable for its impressive 12th-century cathedral
3. A city in England's East Midlands region, located in Cambridgeshire and renowned for its Anglo-Saxon heritage and striking architectural landmarks

Etymology: "Peterborough" is a place name rather than a common word, and its history is simply that of a compound: "Peter," the name of Saint Peter the Apostle, joined to "-borough," the Old English-derived element meaning a fortified settlement or town. The town in Cambridgeshire, England, is named for the Apostle, and the name signals that the settlement grew up around a church or monastery dedicated to him. The same pattern appears elsewhere. "Petersburg" is a doublet of "Peterborough," meaning the two names are the same formation from the same roots, only one taking the English element "-borough" and the other the German-influenced "-burg." Both places therefore bear the saint's name followed by a word for a town, so the naming logic is shared even though the two towns are far apart.