üth

Áth is an Irish word meaning "ford". It is commonly found in Irish place names, often indicating a location where a river or stream could be crossed on foot. These crossing points were historically significant for travel and trade routes. The presence of an áth in a place name often suggests a natural shallow point in a waterway. Examples of place names incorporating áth include Athlone, which means "ford of Luan", and Athboy, meaning "ford of the boyne". The áth was a crucial element in early Irish geography and settlement patterns, facilitating movement across the landscape. In modern Irish, the word is still used to refer to a ford.