Hydronymy in -ikha in historical Novgorod-Pskov lands

Abstract

This article comprehensively analyzes, primarily from the perspective of derivation and etymology, water names ending in -ikha, localized in the central historical lands of medieval Novgorod and Pskov. Approximately 70 such names have been discovered in this region (a list is appended to the article). All of them are relatively late derivatives, appearing no earlier than the 15th century and based on lexical motivators of various categories. Formations based on personal names (Nazarikha, Fomikha, Zurikha, Krasikha, etc.) are quite numerous, accounting for approximately half of the list. Apparently, no fewer hydronyms ending in -ikha are motivated by Russian (rarely Old Russian) appellative vocabulary with impersonal meanings: Kobylikha, Zhelezikha, Pakostikha, Rudikha, Sderikha, etc. Sometimes, village names are transferred to bodies of water (river Falikha < village Falikha). Individual hydronyms were re-formed or further formed from their variants with different formants (Drozdikha < Drozdyanka, Komarikha < Komar), this fully applies to hydronyms with non-Slavic substrate stems (Boldanikha, Galmachikha, Pelchikha, Sheldikha). The article concludes with a thorough discussion of the origin of the -ikha hydronym model, which has features of similarities and differences with the toponymic model -ikha. The source of the hydronymy under consideration were the medieval names of newly formed small villages and small plots of land.