Placename

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The name by which a town, city, region, or other geographical location is identified and recorded
2. A word or title that identifies a specific geographic site such as a village, mountain, river, or country
3. The designation given to a locality, which distinguishes it from other areas on maps and in records

Etymology: "Placename" is a plain compound of "place" and "name," both native English words with Old English roots. "Place" came into English from Old French "place," itself from Latin "platea," meaning a broad street or open space, a sense that survives in its meaning of a particular spot. "Name" descends from Old English "nama," which has cognates across the Germanic languages. Joined together, the two words describe exactly what they say: a name given to a location, such as a town, river, hill or region.

Synonyms: toponym, place name