Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Idla 1185–95 YCh c.1190 Calv 13 BM

• Hidel 1212,1213 FF

• Idele, Ydele c.1230 Calv 1316 Vill

• Idel(l), Ydel(l) c.1230–1394 Calv 1246 Dugdv 1271 YI 1281 Ch 1285 KI 1293 QW 1296 LacyComp 1607 FF

• Idle 1303 KF 1535 FF 1562 TC 1694 YDr

• Idyll, Ydyll 1379 PT 1540 MinAcct

Etymology

Although the forms of Idle agree with those of the R. Idle (Nt 5, RN 207), which is usually taken to be 'the slow river' (v. īdel 'idle'), the YW name is not an old stream-name; the village is on rising ground above the R. Aire and there is no stream on the site which could be described as 'idle' or 'slow'. It is probably therefore a substantival use of idel in the sense 'the empty place, the worthless place, one uncultivated', a use which is paralleled by Idle Wa 108 and, as an adjective, by Idlecote La 205.