Type
Valley, Woodland
Area of origin
England
Area of use
England (esp N England)
Related terms
A once common name for a valley, now often found as a component in place-names.
In Northumberland and Durham the word more specifically refers to the narrow, steep, wooded valleys that contain burns (streams). Many such Denes run into the North Sea along the NE coast e.g. Crimdon Dene in Durham and Jesmond Dene in Tyne and Wear.
Etymology
From Old English denu ‘valley’
Example locations
Entry contributors:
Mark Elliot