-stow

From stōw (“place”), from Proto-Germanic *stōō (“place”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂w- (“to set, place”), from *steh₂- (“to stand”). Akin to Old Norse -stó (“place of”), Old Frisian stō (“place”), Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐍉𐌾𐌰𐌽 (stōjan, “to judge, place”). Compare the similar usage in forming toponyms in the cognate Indo-Iranian suffix -stan. See also stow.

• IPA^(key): /ˌstoːw/

-stōw

1. suffix found in many placenames denoting "place" or "place of"

   Bryċġstōw ― Bristol; literally: the place by the bridge

2. place, area; provenance of, office of, jurisdiction of

   folcstōw ― a place in the country

   friþstōw ― a place of peace, sanctuary, refuge, asylum

   fulwihtstōw ― a baptistry, place where one is baptized

   moldstōw ― a site; sepulcre

   mōtstōw ― a forum

   nēahstōw ― neighbourhood; vicinity

   mynsterstōw ― town, township