Open and Closed Winkins
Early-attested site in the Parish of East Dean
Historical Forms
- nemus de Bessessola cum Winchingiis 12th Box
- Wintingas (sic) in boscis t.Hy2 Box
Etymology
Open and Closed Winkins are names of woods. Reference is made to Winkins in the phrases totas Winkingas in bosc. et plan .(c. 1220Box ), nemus de Bessessola cum Winchingiis (12thBox ) and Wintingas (sic)in boscis (t. Hy 2Box ). These references, and the fact that there is also a Winkins Wood in Kirdford (for which no early forms have been found), suggest that the word must be a significant one. It is difficult not to think that it must be connected with OE wince , 'nook, corner,' a word not on record, but which must once have existed, v. PN Bk 203s. n. Winchbottom. From this was perhaps derived a word wincing , denoting something provided with nooks or corners, an odd shaped piece of woodland. We should have expected later winch rather than wink , but we do get wink occasionally in the south for the ordinary winch , v. NEDs. v. wink , sb. 2. Cf. also lapwink for lapwinche , later lapwing , and link for linch in Stonelink infra 508, 516.