Kortrijk

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as kurtryke and kortrike in 1217. Derived from Middle Dutch Kortrike (“Courtrai”), from earlier Medieval Latin forms Curtraco, Curtriaco, Corturiacensis, as old as Late Latin Cortoriacenses around 400.

Seemingly ultimately of Celtic origin, from the name *Kortoriako(n) with the common placename suffix -ensis. The Celtic word could be based on a Gallo-Roman name Curtorius, perhaps a Latinized Celtic name of unknown meaning (compare currere (“to run”)) with the common Proto-Celtic suffix *-ākos (“belonging to”). Thus, the final meaning would be something like "related to property or land owned by someone named Curtorius."^[1][2]

The hamlet is named after the city in Belgium. Compare Demmerik, Hoograven, Laagraven, Kamerik, Kockengen, Parijsch, Pavijen, Portengen, Snel en Polanen and Spengen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɔrt.rɛi̯k/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Kort‧rijk
• Rhymes: -ɔrtrɛi̯k

Proper noun

Kortrijk n

1. A city, municipality, and arrondissement of West Flanders, Belgium

   Meronyms: Aalbeke, Bellegem, Bissegem, Heule, Kooigem, Marke, Rollegem

2. A hamlet in Stichtse Vecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

Derived terms

• Kortrijkenaar
• Kortrijks

References

1. Maurits Gysseling, Toponymisch Woordenboek van België, Nederland, Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en West-Duitsland (vóór 1226), Tongres, Belgisch Interuniversitair Centrum voor Neerlandistiek, 1960
2. Albert Dauzat et Charles Rostaing, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu en France, Paris, Librairie Guénégaud, 1979, p. 223a.