The
French word ''gave'', as used in the western part of the
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. ...
, is a generic name referring to a torrential river. In the central part of the mountain range, the term for this is ''
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 eng ...
''.
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
Gascony (; ) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part of the combined Province of Guyenne and Gascon ...
as
Gabardan,
Gavarret,
Gavarnie,
Gabas, etc. The name of the ''
Gabali
The Gabali (Gaulish: *''Gabli'') were a Gauls, Gallic tribe dwelling in the later Gévaudan region during the La Tène culture, Iron Age and the Roman period.
Name
They are mentioned as ''Gabalos'' or ''Gabalis'' by Julius Caesar, Caesar (mid-1 ...
'' (the ancient people living in
Gévaudan) 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
The Gave d'Aspe () is a torrential river flowing through the Aspe Valley, one of the three main valleys of the High-Béarn (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the southwest of France. It is long.
It is formed in the ''Aspe Cirque'', below the Aspe pea ...
* 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 or ''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
*
gave d'Oloron
The Gave d'Oloron () is a river of south-western France near the border with Spain. It takes its name from the city Oloron-Sainte-Marie, where it is formed from the rivers Gave d'Aspe and Gave d'Ossau. It joins the Gave de Pau in Peyrehorade ...
*
gave de Pau
*
gave de Sainte-Engrâce
*
gave de Soussouéou
References
{{reflist
Place name element etymologies