Phrases and Names, Their Origins and Meanings

by Trench H. Johnson

Orrery. After the Earl of Orrery, who first caused one to be made.

Osnaburg Street. Named in compliment to Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, the last sovereign-bishop of Osnaburg in Hanover.

Ossulton Street. See “[Lisson Grove].”

Ostend. Literally the east end of Flanders in Belgium.

Ostler. From the French hostelier, an innkeeper.

Oswestry. A corruption of Oswaldstry, the “place of Oswald,” where Oswald, King of Northumbria, was slain in 642. Evidence of this is afforded by the original name of Oswald’s Well, which yields a spring of pure water.

Ottawa. Expresses the Indian for “traders.”

Ottoman Empire. That of the Turks, founded by Othman I. at the commencement of the fourteenth century.

Ouida. The pseudonym of Louise de la Ramée. This was suggested to her at the very commencement of her literary career by the infantile perversion of Louise into “Ouida.”

Ouse. From the Celtic uisg, water.