DUBABISSUM

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*Dubabissum :

* Rivet & Smith, p. 340 : 

- Ravenna, 10743 : DUABSISIS; variante : DUABSISSIS. 

Schnetz, citing instances in Ravenna of s for r and s for v, observes 'Litterarum ratione habita licet corrigere Du[r]abrivis pro Durobrivis)'. In purely scribal terms this is reasonable, if extreme, but it should be noted that (a) there are no Duro- names in Scotland (this part of Ravenna's list relates to S. Scotland), indeed, none north of Towcester; (b) the etymology suggested below is a sound one; (c) the possible pairing with Abissum linguistically and geographically seems logical enough.

DERIVATION. Making one slight change only in Ravenna's form, R&C propose to read Dubabissis, which makes good sense ind has analogies. The first element is *dubo- 'black, dark' (Welsh and Breton du, Irish dubh), found in such ancient names as Dubis > Doubs (a tributary of the Saône, France), *Dubo-lindon > Dublin, Pennodubus (Holder I. 1361). The rest is *ab-isso-, for which see Abissum. The whole name is thus 'place on the dark water.' R&C note that this may well be directly associated with Abissum, making a pair of contrasting names.
For the ending, Ravenna's Abisson clearly suggests -um, and Devionisso is in line with this. Consequently a notional nominative -um ending is here given.

IDENTIFICATION. Unknown, but apparently in southern Scotland.

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Explication : un camp, un emplacement, situé près d'une 'rivière noire'.

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Pour info.

JCE