English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Stair Hole

Other OS name in the Parish of West Lulworth

Historical Forms

  • Starhole 1279 Ch

Etymology

, 1882 Robinson , Starhole 1279 Ch , possibly ' steeply sided hole ' , v. stǣger 2 , hol 1 , which would admirably describe this feature ( Chatwin 95 , plate VIA ) , though the 13th cent , form suggests rather stær ' a starling ' ; above Stair Hole is Stair Head ( Short 64 ) , v. hēafod .