In the sense of "that which spreads" I am inclined to bring in the root _ta_, _tav_, _tan_, _tam_. While in the Gaelic we find _tain_, and the Obs. _ta_, water, _taif_, sea--in the Welsh we have the verbs _taenu_ and _tafu_, to expand or spread. The latter, I think, must contain the root-meaning; and the appellatives must rather signify water of a spreading character. In this sense we find the words _to_, _tû_, _tau_, in the Hungarian dialects signifying a lake. The Sansc. has _tan_, to extend, but we must presume a simpler form _ta_, corresponding with the above Obs. Gael. word for water. Mone explains _tab_, as in Tabuda (the Scheldt), as "a broad river, especially one with a broad mouth." This sense no doubt obtains in many of the names of this group, for, as well as the Scheldt; the Tay, Taw, Teign, and Tamar, all have this character in a more or less notable degree. In other cases the sense may be that of comparative broadness--thus the Timavus, though little more than a mile long, is 50 yards broad close to its source. So the characteristic of the Dane, as noticed by the county topographers, is that it is "broad and shallow." And the feature which strikes the topographer is of course that which would naturally give the name. There are, however, some other roots which might intermix, as Sansc. _tan_, resonare, Lat. _tono_, Germ. _tönen_, &c. Also Gael. and Ir. _taam_, to pour; Gael. and Ir. _tom_, to bathe, Welsh and Ir. _ton_, unda. _The form Ta, Tab, Tav._ 1. _England._ The TAVY and the TAW. Devon. DEVA ant., the DEE--here? _Scotland._ TAVUS ant. The TAY. The DEE, two rivers--here? _Wales._ The TAW, the TIVY, and the TAVE. _Ireland._ The TAY. Waterford. Loch TA in Wexford. _France._ The DIVE, Dep. Vienne--here? _Germany._ The THAYA in Moravia. _Spain._ The DEVA by Placentia--here? 2. _With the ending d or t._ _Scotland._ The TEVIOT in Roxburghshire--here? _Holland._ TABUDA ant., now the Scheldt. _Siberia._ The TAVDA. _India._ The TAPTEE--here? _The form Tan, Tam._ 1. _England._ The TEIGN and the TEANE. The DANE and the DEANE. The TAME, three rivers. _Scotland._ The TEMA. Selkirkshire. DANUS ant., now the DON. _France._ DANUS ant., now the Ain. The DAHME and the DÉAUME. _Norway._ The TANA. _Italy._ TIMAVUS ant., now the TIMAO. _Russia._ TANAIS ant., now the DON. The TIM and the TOM. _Greece._ TANUS ant., now the Luku. 2. _With the ending er._ _England._ The TAMAR. Cornwall. _Belgium._ The DEMER. _Italy._ TANARUS ant., now the TANARO. _Spain._ TAMARIS ant., now the TAMBRE. _Syria._ TAMYRAS ant., (Strabo)--here?