----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I am sorry if this is a repeat message: I am in the midst of reading "Made in America: an informal history of the English language in the United States", by Bill Bryson, 1994. It is a very interesting and well-written book. Bryson has half a chapter (chapter 7) dedicated to placenames. This is very interesting stuff--although I think some of it is wrong, like "Montana" meaning nothing. I was always taught it meant "mountain" or something similar in Spanish. The chapter (and the whole book) is worth checking out. --christopher jj thiry colorado school of mines [log in to unmask]