September 24.

The name Rottenrow is one of the earliest named Glasgow streets

(Ratonraw, 1283), at a time when few were named (September 18 and 23).

Although the OED is coy on the subject, its etymology seems not to be

in doubt. It is neither French nor Gaelic but, as we might expect from

so widespread a name, plain English.

It comes from a middle English word (though of French derivation),

''ratoun'', meaning ''rat''. Apart from the famous Rottenrow in

Kensington, it was found in other English towns, and in Scotland also in

Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, Haddington, and Leith.

No doubt it tells us something about the living conditions of our

ancestors, but what puzzles me about the name is the compound with

''row''.

Presumably that meant a single stretch of houses, with none on the

opposite side of the street -- hence, I suppose, Fisherrow, where houses

overlooked a harbour.

But why, if rats commonly infested a one-sided street, did they never

infest, and give their name to a street built up on both sides -- why is

there no Rottengate (''gate'' means ''street'')?

Professor A. A. M. Duncan,

9 University Gardens,

Glasgow.