Cæsar makes mention of a Sylva Bacen-is, which separated the Cherusci from the Suevi; and Ptolemy speaks of a Meli-boc-os, in the north of Germany. There is still a Meli-boc-us in the south of Germany.
The German form (Buhl, Puhel, &c.), occurs in
- Eichen-buhl, the oak ridge;
- Dun-kels-buhl, the ridge of the mountain springs;
- Ross-buhl, the horse’s ridge;
- Lust-buhl, the hill of pleasure.
Breg, Beorg, Beroh (Anglo-Saxon), a mountain, a hill, a heap of stones or earth; Berg Pereg (High German), Bairgs (Gothic), Bierg, Bjorg, Borg (Scandinavian).—Ha-berg-ham-caves, Wa-ber-thwaite, Wi-berg-thwaite (holy mountain path), Leg-ber-thwaite (low mountain path), Brown-berg-hill, Lang-baurgh.
Barrow and Barf occur frequently in the north of England. They are probably only slightly altered forms of Berg.—Under-barrow-scar, High-barrow-ridge, &c.; Clee-barf, Barf near (Bassen-thwaite), &c.
The German Berg is found in
- Berg, Berg-en, the mountain region;
- Berge-dorf, the hilly city;
- Berg-heim, the hilly home;
- Adels-berg, the noble’s hill;
- Arns-berg, the eagles’ hill;
- Alten-berg, the ancient hill;
- As-perg, the ash hill;
- Heidel-berg, the heath hill;
- Konigs-berg, the King’s hill;
- Mittel-gebirge, middle range.
The Scandinavian form Borg, appears in
- Borg-loh, the hilly dwelling by the water;
- Borg-holm, the hilly island;
- Borg-holz-hausen, the hilly-wooded dwelling; &c.