rith

Definition

A small stream or channel.

Etymology

From Middle English rīth (“a small stream”), rithe, from Old English rīþ m (“a small stream”), rīþe f, from Proto-West Germanic *rīþ, from Proto-Germanic *rīþaz, *rīþǭ (“stream, beck, brook”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rey- (“to arise, arise”). Cognate with Old Frisian rīth, rīd (“stream, beck”), Old Saxon rīth (“stream, torrent”) (> Middle Low German rîde), Old Dutch rīth (“stream, beck”), German -reide (“stream”, in placenames).

Example Sentences

• "They waded further up the rith."
• "[…] does not Cleanse part of two Riths or Sewers and repair so much of Pagham Wall against the Sea as doth belong to him to cleanse and to repair and the said Edward Woods to have notice to appear before us on the twenty Seventh day of this Instant December to give […]"
• "[…] Riths or Channels in the Harbour, as proposed in the Evidence of Charles Mant, Esquire, and alluded to in the Petition from Langstone, Your Committee are of opinion may be beneficially adopted and introduced in any Bill hereafter to […]"