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In Scotland, Northern England and some parts of Ireland, 'burn' is a name for watercourses from large streams to small rivers. The term is also used in lands settled by the Scots and Northern English in other countries, notably in Otago, New Zealand.
In archaic English, its cognate was "bourne", which is retained in the placename Bournemouth.
Scots Gaelic has the word ''bùrn'', also cognate, but which means "fresh water"; the actual Gaelic for a "burn" is ''allt'' (sometimes anglicised as "ault" in placenames.

Contents

Etymology

Examples

Etymology

The name originally came from Northumbrian (Old English or Ynglis) into the Scots language, Scottish English and Geordie.
Also, in Scotland, larger streams may be called ''water'' rather than ''stream'' or ''river'', e.g. Gala Water, Water of Leith.

Examples

★ Burn of Elsick

★ Burn of Pheppie

★ Burn of Muchalls