Hard Knott and Hard Knott Pass
Early-attested site in the Parish of Birker and Austhwaite
Historical Forms
- Hardecnuut c.1210 Furness
- (summitatem del) Ardechnut 1242 ib
- Hard-knot 1610 Camden 1741 Sykes 1777 NB
- Wynscarth, Wainscarth 1242 Furness
Etymology
Wainscarth, which was the original name of Hard Knott Pass, is clearly identical with Wainscarre in Blyth (PN Nt 69). It is a compound of ME wain , 'waggon' (from OE wægen ) and ON skarð, 'gap' or 'cleft,' that is 'cleft through which a waggon could go.' Cf. Wainfleet (L) (DEPN).
The name Hard Knott itself is a compound of ON harðr , 'hard,' and knútr , 'knot,' meaning 'craggy hill.' A similar change of th to d occurs in Ward Hall supra 310, from ON varði , and in Guards.It is remarkable that a doublet of this name is recorded in the neighbourhood of Loweswater in the 13th century. A final concord of 1230 (FF ) refers to condosium ('slope') collis qui vocatur Hardecnut .The latter hill is probably identical with Great Borne in Ennerdale (infra 385), of which no early forms have been found.
Places in the same Parish
Other OS name
- Low Birker
- Birker Dub
- Birkerthwaite
- Brant Rake
- Fox Bield
- High Ground
- Low Ground, Milkingstead Mire
- Sword Ho
- Tewit Moss
- Whincop
- Wonder Hill