Oirsbeek

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as oersbeke in 1273. Derived from a compound of an unclear first element and beek (“brook, stream”). The first element has been interpreted as Old Dutch ors (“horse”) and *oor (“coarse sand”). Both of these readings do not match well with the long vowel in the oldest attestations, however.

See also Limburgish Oeësjbik.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈoːrs.beːk/
• Hyphenation: Oirs‧beek

Proper noun

Oirsbeek n

1. A village and former municipality of Beekdaelen, Limburg, Netherlands.

Derived terms

• Oirsbekenaar
• Oirsbeeks

References

• van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN