Orresnora, Falkehytta, Mågahuset og Ørnhus: nokre stadnamn som har bakgrunn i fuglefangst

Abstract

A number of local place-names (microtoponyms) from southwestern Norway, along the coast as well as in the mountains, denote locations where birds have been caught. The semantic content of some toponyms provides specific information about bird catching in various locations. Several names refer to old hunting methods, some of them no longer known by common people. Some names from coastal areas refer to so-called måk(e)hus, i.e. ‘gull houses’, a special type of trap used to catch seagulls. Many toponyms from the mountains refer to catching white and black grouse. Place-names like Ørnhus, Ørnhuset and Ørnahuset refer to a so-called ørn(e)hus, i.e. ‘eagle house’, used when catching eagle. Of special interest are place-names giving information about falcon catching.