tor

Meaning

Noun

1. A craggy outcrop of rock on the summit of a hill, created by the erosion and weathering of rock.
2. A hill with such rock formation.

Adj

Alternative form of tore ("hard, difficult; strong; rich").

Synonyms

cairn

monument

tumulus

Gilead

-tor

Gilad

residual rock

Pronounced as (IPA)

/tɔɹ/

Etymology

From Middle English tor, torr-, from Old English torr, tor (“a high rock, lofty hill, tower”), possibly from Proto-Celtic, compare Old Welsh *tor (“hill”); ultimately from Latin turris (“tower”), from Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis), τύρσις (túrsis, “tower”), of non-Indo-European origin.
Cognate with Cornish tor, Scottish Gaelic tòrr, Welsh tŵr, Irish tor, French tor, and Romansch tor/tur/tuor; the first four are Celtic (from Latin turris), the last two directly from Latin turris (from Ancient Greek τύρρις (túrrhis) and τύρσις (túrsis)). It is not clear whether the Celtic forms were borrowed from Old English or vice versa. Doublet of tourelle, tower, and turret.