RHIADUR (Cym.-Cel.),
a cataract; e.g. Rhayadar (the cataract), a town in Radnor, near a fall of the R. Wye, removed in 1780. Radnor itself is supposed to have taken its name from Rhiadur-Gwy (the cataract of the R. Wye); Rhiadur-mawr (the great cataract), in Caernarvonshire; Rhaidr-y-wennol (the cataract of the swallow), so named from the rapidity of its motion, like that of the bird.
RHIW (Welsh),
an ascent; e.g. Ruabon, corrupt. from Rhiw-Fabon (the ascent of St. Mabon).
RHOS, ROS (Cym.-Cel.),
in Wales signifying a moor, in Cornwall a valley; e.g. Ross, a town in Hereford; Rhoscollen (the moor of hazels), in Anglesea; Rhos-du (black moor); Penrhos (the head of the moor), in Wales. In Cornwall: Roskilly (the valley of hazels); Rosecrewe (the valley of the cross); Rosvean (little valley); Rosmean (stony valley).
RHUDD (Cym.-Cel.),
RUADH (Gadhelic),
ROTH and RUD (Teut.),
ROD (Scand.),
red; e.g. Rutland (red land), or perhaps cleared ground—v. RODE; Rhuddlan (the red bank, glan); Rhuthin, corrupt. from Rhudd-din (the red land); Llanrhudd (the red church), in Wales; Romhilde, anc. Rotemulte (red land); Rother, Rotha, Rothback (red stream); Rotherthurm, Hung. Vörostoroney (red tower); Rothen-haus, Sclav. Czerweny-hradek (red house or castle), in Bohemia; Rotenburg, in Switzerland (the town on the red brook); Rothenburg, in Hanover and Bavaria (the red fortress); Rothenburg, in Prussia proper, is called by the Sclaves Rostarezewo (the town of the Sclavonic deity Ratzi); Rothenfels (red rock); Rotherham (the dwelling on the red river); Roughan and Rooghaun (reddish land), in Ireland. But the prefix rud is sometimes the abbreviation of a proper name, thus— Rudesheim, in Germany, is from Hruodinesheim (the dwelling of Hruodine); Rudby, in Yorkshire (of Routh); Rudkioping, in Denmark (the market-town of Routh).
RHYD (Welsh),
a ford; e.g. Rhyderin, corrupt. from Rhyd-gerwin (the rough ford); Rhyd-y-Boithan, corrupt. from Byddin (the ford of the army); Rhydonen, corrupt. from Rhyd-hen (the old ford); Rhyd-dol-cynfar (the ford of the valley of the ancient fight).