Attested: Ptolemy 2,3,6 Αβου river mouth
Where: The Humber estuary.
Name origin: PIE *ap- or *ab- ‘water, river’ compete with *apo- ‘off’ (which led to Latin ab and abeo ‘to go away’) to explain this name. By a small margin the ‘export’ explanation seems better for Αβου, because Grimsby-plus-Immingham is modern Britain's premier cargo port and because of York's importance in Roman and post-Roman times.
Notes: Ptolemy's coordinates map close to Grimsby/Immingham. The river Ouse (upstream) should not be cited for Αβου.
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Last edited 6 April 2020 To main Menu