I bring in here the word _aram_ or _arm_, which, both in the names of rivers, and in the ancient names of men, as the German hero Arminius, needs explanation. The authority of Dr. Donaldson may probably have been the cause of the reproduction, even in some of the latest English works, of the mistake of confounding the name Armin, Ermin, or Irmin, with the word _hermann_, warrior, (from _her_, army, _mann_, homo). That it is not so is shown by its appearance in the ancient names of women, as Ermina, Hermena, and Irmina,[51] (daughter of Dagobert the 2nd). And by the manner in which it forms compounds, as Armenfred, Irminric, Irminger,[52] Ermingaud, Irminher, &c. For we may take it as a certain rule that no word, itself a compound, forms other compounds in ancient names. Indeed, the last of the five names, Irminher, (which is found as early as the 7th cent.), is formed from the word _her_, army, so that, according to the above theory, it would be Her-mann-her. The fact then, as I take it, is that, both in the names of rivers and of men, the root is simply _arm_ or _irm_, and _armin_ or _irmin_ an extended form, like those found all throughout these pages. As to its etymology, the word _aram_, _arm_, in the Teutonic dialects signifying poor or weak, is in itself unsuitable, but I think that the original meaning may perhaps rather have been mild or gentle. The root seems to be found in the Gael. _ar_, slow; and _aram_ may be a corresponding word to the Welsh _araf_. Baxter, who, though his general system of river-names I hold to be fallacious, was, for his time, no contemptible etymologist, suggests something of the sort. 1. _England._ The ARME. Devon. _Russia._ The URJUM(KA)--here? 2. _With the ending en._ _Italy._ ARIMINUS ant., now the Marecchia. The ARMINE. 3. _With the ending es._ _Germany._ ARMISIA ant., now the ERMS. In this place I am inclined to bring in the Medway, and some other names connected with it. Among the various derivations which have been suggested for this name, that of Grimm deserves the first place, though I much fear that it is too poetical to be true. He observes, (_Gesch. d. Deutsch. Sprach._), comparing it with another name--"In Carl's campaign, A.D. 779, there is a place mentioned in the vicinity of the Weser, called Medofulli, Midufulli; _medoful_ means poculum mulsi, (_Hel._ 62, 10); it appears to have been a river, which at present bears some other name. Of just a similar meaning is the name of the river Medway flowing through the county of Kent into the Thames--_i.e._, Ang.-Sax. Meadovaege, Medevaege Medvaege (_Cod. Dip._), from _vaege_, Old Sax. _wêgi_, Old Norse _veig_, poculum.... I suggest here a mythological reference: as the rivers of the Greeks and Romans streamed from the horn or the urn of the river-god, so may also the rivers and brooks of our ancestors, in a similar mythic fashion, have sprung from the over-turned mead-cup."