Sjönamnsstudier

Abstract

Bolmen is a large lake in the province of Småland. Elof Hellquist interpreted its name as having been formed from the adjective *bolm ‘big’. However, it is not possible to infer the existence of such an adjective. Instead, Bolmen is likely a derivation with the m-suffix to the root bul- ‘swell’. Presumably, the large size of the lake is the reason behind its name.

Lossen is a lake in the province of Härjedalen. It is an extension of the river Ljusnan, whose name is a Proto-Scandinavian *Luhsnō f. > Old Swedish Lusn, a derivative by ablaut of the root of the adjective ljus ‘light’. In this article Lossen is explained as a dehydronymic derivative *Luhsnan m. of the river name.

Mæghin forms the fi rst element of several Swedish place-names. Two i nterpretations exist, the man’s name Mæghin, and mæghin n. ‘force; strength’. The latter has been suggested for three lake names, Old Swedish *Mæghinsior. However, these names can likely be explained as elliptic reductions of *Mæghins[bodha]sior or similar.