Wandsworth

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A large residential borough in southwest London, along the Thames ; a Victorian-era prison located in the district of that same name
2. An administrative district in south-west London on the River Thames ; a male prison situated in the borough of that name in the capital
3. A southwestern London borough known for its parks and residential areas ; a penal institution in the district bearing the same name

Etymology: Wandsworth is a place name in south London, and its name is built from the River Wandle, which still flows through the district before joining the Thames. The river's name is the older element here, and the "worth" part is the Old English word for an enclosure or settlement, so the town's name reads roughly as the settlement on the Wandle. The river itself gives the place its identity: the Wandle was once lined with mills and works, and the name has stayed attached to the water and the town alike. The "worth" ending appears in many English place names, typically marking a farmstead or enclosure, which is why Wandsworth sounds like a cousin of places such as Kenilworth or Wordsworth.