Opheusden

Dutch

Etymology

Potentially attested as in uilla husuduna in the second half of the 9th century, attested with certainty as hosdenrewert in 1290. Compound of op (“higher, upriver”) and the prehistoric toponym Heusden. The second element has been interpreted as Proto-Germanic *husid-inja- (“place of refuge, secure location”), in turn derived from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewH- (“to hide, to occlude”) and related to Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌶𐌳 (huzd, “treasure, hoard”), Old English hord (“hoard, treasure”) and Old Saxon hord (“hidden courtyard, treasure”). Alternative interpretations include Proto-Celtic *Kusidiniom (literally “settlement of Kusidinios”) and Proto-Germanic *hus-idh-umnjô- (“place of houses”). Compare Heusden, Oud-Heusden, Huizinge and Huisduinen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔpˈɦøːs.də(n)/
• Hyphenation: Op‧heus‧den
• Rhymes: -øːsdən

Proper noun

Opheusden n

1. A village and former municipality of Neder-Betuwe, Gelderland, Netherlands

Derived terms

• Opheusdenaar
• Opheusdens

References

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