Tooley Street. Originally “St Olaff Street” after the parish church dedicated to St Olaff or Olave. This thoroughfare was in the time of the Commonwealth known as “St Tulie Street,” of which its modern name is an easy corruption.
Toothpicks. A nickname borne by the people of Arkansas on account of the Bowie Knives carried by the early settlers.
Topaz. From topazios, after Topazos, the Greek name of an island in the Red Sea where this gem was anciently
Tories. Originally, during the Restoration period, the nickname bestowed[bestowed] by the Protestants on their religious and political opponents. This was in derisive allusion to a band of outlaws that infested the bog districts of Ireland, the word toree being Gaelic for a robber.
Toronto. Indian for “oak-trees beside the lake.”
Torquatus. See “[Manlius Torquatus].”
Torres Strait. After the Spanish navigator, L. N. de Torres, who discovered it in 1606.
Torrington Square. After the family name of the first wife of John, the sixth Duke of Bedford, the ancestor of the great ground landlord.
Tothill Street. A name which recalls the ancient manor of Tothill, properly Toothill--i.e. beacon hill. Wherever toot or tot appears in a place-name, it points to the one-time existence of a beacon.
Totnes. A corruption of “Toot Ness,” the beacon on the headland.