—I understand MR. STEPHENS to insinuate that Cattraeth means Catterick or vice versâ. That both names begin with cat, and so much only, I am able to concede.
Catterick was Cataractonium, or Cataracta, a Latin word of Greek derivation, alluding to the rapids of the Swale. No man can dispute that Cat-traeth is a compound of regular and truly idiomatic formation. Therefore the best meaning I can surmise is this: that Aneurin, wishing to play upon the syllable cat, the battle, and disregarding the falsehood and inapplicability of traeth, therefore travestied Cataracta into Cattraeth. For the meaning of traeth, in topography, see Giraldus, Itin. Cambr. lib. ii. cap. 6., and the common sources of information.
But that meaning was not one tolerated by Aneurin, maugre its untruth, in order to avail himself of the other and appropriate word. It was one on which he leant heavily and with emphasis, reproducing, and multiplying it in several forms. For he calls the scene of contest not only Cat-traeth, seabeach of battle, but also Gall-traeth, sea-beach of prowess; and Mordai, the sea-shore: "Gododin ar llawr mordai: Gododin whose ground-plot is on the sea-shore." Again, the scene of "outcry and slaughter" is called Uffin; but Uffin was situate on "y mordai ymmoroedd Gododin," on the sea-shore of the sea of Gododin.
Catterick is remote from the sea, and inconsistent with all that Aneurin says. And though Sigston should mean in Anglo-Saxon town of victory, from some ancient occurrence, Catterick is assuredly not derived from cat, a battle, in British. Bilinguar etymology, of the same date, and from the same event, would be suspicious, even if facts did not confute it.
A. N.
Biographical Dictionary (Vol. iv., p. 483.).
—It is almost unnecessary to direct Z. Z. Z. to the Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, inasmuch as it is but a splendid fragment, comprising only the letter A, in seven half-volumes. But it may be of use to call attention to this work; and as, from an examination of the plan, the names of the contributors, and that of the editor, no one can have any doubt of its worth and superiority, so one would imagine that an enterprising publisher might take up the continuation of it without risk.
ED. STEANE JACKSON.
Saffron Walden.