-bury
English edit
Etymology edit
From Old English byriġ, the dative case of burg (“fortified place”) (whence borough).
Due to the collapse of the case system between Old and Middle English, many placenames retain a fossilized dative form, as places would most commonly have been invoked in the dative (after a preposition in, at, to etc.).
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /-bɹi/, /-bəɹi/, /-bɹɪ/, /-bəɹɪ/
- (New Zealand) IPA(key): /-bɹi/, /-bɘɹi/
Suffix edit
-bury
- A placename suffix indicating a fortified place.