cnoc

Cnoc is a Scottish Gaelic noun meaning hill, knoll, or mound. It is a common element in Scottish Gaelic toponymy, used to denote small, rounded elevations and appears in place names across Gaelic-speaking areas, particularly in the Highlands and Western Isles. The word is also found in Irish, where cnoc carries the same meaning.

Pronunciation is roughly like the English word “knock,” with a hard k and a short o. In linguistic terms, it is often represented as [knɔk].

Etymology and language notes: cnoc derives from Gaelic and is cognate with the Irish cnoc; it is related to other Celtic terms for hill. It describes a landscape feature rather than a mountain, and it frequently forms part of compound place names that describe the hill’s location or nearby landmarks.

Toponymy and anglicization: on English-language maps, cnoc is often anglicized as Knoc or Knock, and many Scottish locations retain the Gaelic form Cnoc in official names or ceremonial usage. The element remains a productive part of Gaelic place names in historical and modern contexts, reflecting the importance of landscape features in local naming practices.

See also: Gaelic toponymy; Scottish Gaelic language; Irish toponymy.