ROC, ROCHE (Fr.), ROCCA (It.), ROC (A.S.),
a rock—derivatives from the Lat. rupes; e.g. Rocca-bianca (white rock); Rocca-casale (rock village or dwelling); Rocca-secura (the safe rock fortress), in Italy; Rocca-Valoscuro (the rock in the dark valley), in Naples; Rochefort-sur-mer (the strong fortress on the sea), at the mouth of the R. Charente; La Rochelle (the little rock fortress); Rochefort (rock fortress), in Belgium; Rochester, Co. Kent (the fortress on the rock), or, according to Bede, the fort of Hrop, a Saxon chief; Rochester, in New York, named after Colonel Rochester, one of the early settlers; Roche-Guyon, Lat. Rupes-Guidonis (the rock fortress of Guido); Roche-Foucault, anc. Rupes-Fucaldi (the fortress of Foucalt); Rocroi, Lat. Rupes-Regia (the royal fortress), in France; Roxburgh (the rock fortress)—the ancient town, as well as the county, taking their name from the strong castle, situated on a rock near the junction of the Tweed and Teviot—the ancient name of the castle was Marchidun (the hill-fort on the marshy land).
ROS, ROSS (Gadhelic),
a promontory or isthmus, and also, in the south of Ireland, a wood; thus New Ross, Co. Wexford, anc. Ros-mic-Treoin (the wood of Treuon’s son); Roscommon (of St. Coman); Roscrea (Cree’s wood); Ross-castle (on a promontory on Lake Killarney); Muckross (the peninsula of the pigs), in several places in Ireland; Muckros (with the same meaning—the pig’s headland) was the ancient name of the town of St. Andrews; Rossbegh (of the birches); Rossinver (of the confluence); Port-rush (the landing-place of the promontory); Ross-shire seems to have taken its name from Ross (a wood); Montrose, anc. Monros (the promontory on the marshy land, moin); Rosneath, anc. Rosneveth (the promontory of St. Nefydd), in Dumbartonshire; Roslin (the promontory on the pool); Kinross (the head of the promontory), either with reference to the county—in regard to Fife, of which it anciently formed part—or with reference to the town at the head of Loch Leven. Fife was anciently called Ross: it got the name of Fife in honour of Duff, Earl of Fife, to whom it was given by Kenneth II.; and in 1426 Kinross was made a separate county. Roskeen (the head or corner of Ross-shire); Rosehearty, in Aberdeenshire, corrupt. from Ros-ardty (the dwelling on the high promontory).
RÜHE (Ger.),
rest; e.g. Ludwigsrühe (Ludowic’s rest); Carlshrühe (Charles’s rest), founded by Charles William, Margrave of Baden, in 1715; Henricksrühe (Henry’s rest).
RUN (A.S.),
council; e.g. Runhall (the hall of the council); Runnington, anc. Runenton (the town of the council); Runnymede (the meadow of the council).
RYBA (Sclav.),
fish; e.g. Rybnik, Rybniza (the fish pond); Rybinsk, Rybnaia (fish town).