Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Slegil(e), Slegill(e), Slegyl(e), Slegyll(e) 1180–90 CWix,241 c.1189 Lanc c.1200 Lowth 1200–30 Bart c.1233 MdMb 1234–6 Weth 1252 Lowth 1777 M

• Scleg(h)il(le) 1190 Lowth 13 StBees 1250–60,c.1285 Weth

• Slenegill 13 HMCx,320

• Sleuegile 1294 Ch

• Slehgile 1208 FF

• Selegile 1250–60 Weth

• Sleegill 1612 FF 1704 Terr

• Sleagill 1636,1664 PR(Mrl)

• Sligill 1655,1667 PR(Mrl)

• Sliegill 1667 ib

Etymology

Ekwall (DEPN s.n.) has suggested that the first el. is probably an old stream-name from ON  slefa 'saliva', meaning something like 'trickling stream'; this has also been proposed for the Norw  p.n. Slævdal (NG ix, 197). Sleagill Beck is, however, a small but fairly vigorous stream, and it is therefore possible that we have the same word used as a byname as in the ON  byname Slefa (LindBN), which may also be found in Norw  Sleveland (NG x, 76). v. gil 'ravine'.