Abona
/əˈboʊnə/noun
Abona was a Roman-era name for a river in Britain, probably referring to the Avon near modern Bristol.
Did you know?Abona was not a magical incantation, but a Celtic river-name so widespread that Roman writers preserved it in several British place-names.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
Proto-Celtic
*abonā
“River; flowing water”
Roman Britain
Brittonic
abonā
“A river, used as a hydronym”
1st–2nd Century CE
Latin
Abona
“Romanized name recorded for a British river”
Old Welsh
Welsh
afon
“River”
Middle English
English
Avon
“A river name inherited from Brittonic”
Modern English
English
Avon
“A proper name used for several rivers in Britain”