The
French word ''gave'' is a generic name referring to torrential rivers, in the west side of the
Pyrenees. In the central part of the Pyrenees, the name ''
neste
Neste Oyj (international name: Neste Corporation; former names Neste Oil Corporation and Fortum Oil and Gas Oy) is an oil refining and marketing company located in Espoo, Finland. It produces, refines and markets oil products, provides engi ...
'' has the same function.
The word ''gave'' derives from the old
Gascon ''gabar'', attested as ''gabarrus'' in medieval Latin.
[Theodule (8th century - 9th century)] Based on a pre-Celtic root ''*gab'' meaning 'hollow' (thus 'throat'), it refers to lower places, valleys and rivers. It is widely found in placenames of
Gascony as
Gabardan,
Gavarret,
Gavarnie,
Gabas, etc. The name of the ''
Gabali
The Gabali (Gaulish: *''Gabli'') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the later Gévaudan region during the Iron Age and the Roman period.
Name
They are mentioned as ''Gabalos'' or ''Gabalis'' by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC), as ''Gabalei͂s'' (ΓαβαΠ...
'' (the ancient people living in
Gévaudan
Gévaudan (; oc, Gavaudan, Gevaudan) is a historical area of France in Lozère ''département''. It took its name from the Gabali, a Gallic tribe subordinate to the Arverni.
History
After the conquest of Gaul, the Romans preserved the c ...
) is supposed to be related to this stem.
The final ''-r'' is missing because it was lost in Gascon: gabar > gabà > .
Gaves in the Pyrenees
*
gaves réunis
*
gave d'Arrens
*
gave d'Aspe,
* gave d'
Aspé,
*
gave de Baralet,
*
gave de Bélonce,
*
gave de Bious,
*
gave de Brousset,
*
gave de Cauterets,
* gave de
Cestrède,
* gave d'
Estaubé,
*
gave du Lavedan,
*
gave de Gaube,
*
gave de Gavarnie,
* gave de
Héas,
*
gave d'Ilhéou,
*
gave de Jéret,
*
gave de Labat de Bun ou ''gave d'Estaing'',
*
gave de Larrau,
*
gave du Lavedan,
*
gave de Lescun,
*
gave de Lourdios,
*
gave de Lutour,
*
gave du Marcadau,
*
gave de Mauléon
*
gave d'Ossau,
* gave d'
Ossoue
The Vignemale (; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Vinhamala'', Aragonese language, Aragonese: ''Comachibosa'', Catalan language, Catalan: ''Vinyamala''), at 3,298 metres, is the highest of the France, French Pyrenees, Pyrenean summits (the highest in ...
,
*
gave d'Oloron,
*
gave de Pau
The Gave de Pau () is a river of south-western France. It takes its name from the city of Pau, through which it flows. The river is long ( including the Gaves réunis), and its source is at the Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees mountains. The ...
,
*
gave de Sainte-Engrâce,
*
gave de Soussouéou.
References
{{reflist
Place name element etymologies