Letocetum - Etymology

Etymology

The site is mentioned as "Etocetum" in the Antonine Itinerary and is interpreted as the Latinised version of the Brythonic "Letoceton"; leto — grey, ceton — wooded area. Literally meaning grey wooded area or grey forest which may refer to the native ash and elm trees which would have covered the land at the time. It later appears in Welsh when it or nearby Lichfield are called "Caer Lwytgoed", modern Welsh llwyd — grey, coed — wood.

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