Maroto, Manotera, and Salmeron: Contributions to Spanish Toponymy Concerning the Expression of the Hill

It is argued that such diverse toponyms as Maroto, Manotera, or Salmeron, & a plethora of their variant forms spread across the various regions of Spain, are traceable to the same etymological base & semantic motivation. It is demonstrated that the appellative loma 'hill' is reconstructable as the semantic core for these forms, which were derived either by different onomastic suffixes, accompanied by an article, diminutivized, fused with the adjective oto/otero 'high', or based on nouns whose meaning is figuratively associated with hill, such as albarda 'saddle' or salma 'packsaddle, saddlebag'. The most productive suffixes, derivational models, & phonetic & semantic processes underlying the formation of these place names are discussed. It is acknowledged, however, that some of these etymological reconstructions are tentative & in need of more solid evidence. 3 Tables. Adapted from the source document