Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

Rapsgate, 1824 M. This place gave its name to the hundred (144 supra ). The earlier forms of the latter suggest an OE  resp -Ʒeat . The first el. would appear to be OE  resp , reps which is recorded only in the sense of 'response' (in the Church service), but related words like OE  repsan , repsung and (ge )resp extend its meaning to 'reprove, blame, convict'; OHG  refsan meant 'argue', and OIcel  refsa 'punish' and also 'inquire', whilst MSwed  räfsta -þing denoted a kind of public meeting or court for the administration of the law (cf. Söderwall ii, 276–7 s.v. räfst ). It is very probable that some such sense as 'public inquiry, public court of law' would pertain also to OE  resp , a sense appropriate in the name of a hundred meeting-place. Rapsgate is on the hillside rising to the prominent Pen Hill and there is no topographical feature such as a gap in the hills which would be described by OE  geat; the latter must here be used of 'a gate', no doubt one on the lane from North Cerney to Colesbourne which gave access to Rapsgate; for the use of geat cf. also Spital Gate (65supra ), Kiftsgate (261infra ).