Heiligerlee

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as asterle in the 13th century. Compound of Old Frisian aster (“eastern, east-”) and a term cognate to Old Saxon hlêo (“burial mound”). The toponym contrasts with Westerlee. The first element was gradually replaced with heilig (“holy”) under the influence of a nearby monastery. Compare Beneden-Leeuwen, Boven-Leeuwen, Leeuwen, Leeuwte, Denderleeuw, Gors-Opleeuw, Lauw, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw and Zoutleeuw.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɦɛi̯.lɪ.ɣərˌleː/
• Hyphenation: Hei‧li‧ger‧lee

Proper noun

Heiligerlee n

1. A village in Oldambt, Groningen, Netherlands.

References

• van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN