Thames
/tɛmz/noun
A major river in southern England flowing through London.
Did you know?The river’s name is so old that its exact origin is uncertain, but it was already recorded by the Romans as Tamesis, preserving a pre-English name from Britain’s deep past.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Roman Britain
Brittonic
*Tamesā
“An ancient river name, likely meaning simply 'dark' or 'swelling river' (exact sense uncertain).”
1st Century
Latin
Tamesis
“The Romanized name of the river Thames.”
Old English
Old English
Temes
“The river Thames.”
Middle English
English
Thamis / Temse
“Variant medieval spellings of the river name.”
Modern English
English
Thames
“The river in England, especially the one flowing through London.”