ness
n. countablen. a piece of land that sticks out into the sea or a lake. It is an old word often found in the names of places on the coast.
n. a promontory, cape, or headland extending into a body of water. Primarily used as a geographical suffix or in specific regional place names, particularly in Northern Europe and the British Isles.
The lighthouse stands on the edge of the ness.
The hikers followed the coastal path until they reached the tip of the ness, where the wind was strongest.
The ancient settlement was strategically positioned on a rocky ness, providing the inhabitants with a panoramic view of any approaching vessels from the North Sea.
From Middle English nesse (in placenames), from Old English næs, from Proto-Germanic *nasją (“promontory; ness”); cognate with Middle Low German nes, Icelandic nes, Swedish näs, Danish næs, Old Norse nes. Related to nose.
Commonly appears as a suffix in toponyms (e.g., Dungeness, Sheerness) rather than as a standalone noun in modern conversation.