gouw

From Middle Dutch gou, gau, gō (genitive gooy), from Old Dutch gō, from Proto-Germanic *gawją, a collective form equivalent to ge- (“a prefix that indicates a single collective whole”) +‎ ouwe (“land near water or drenched with water”). Cognate of West Frisian gea, goa, German Gau.

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gouw f (plural gouwen, diminutive gouwtje n or gouwken n)

1. (archaic) geographical area; shire

   in de Dietse gouwen

   in the Low Countries

• (geographical area): landstreek

• Van Dale, 11. edition (1984)