[OE. winterburna, f. WINTER sb.1 + burna, BOURN(E sb.1, BURN sb.1 As a place-name Winterbourne is distributed over Wiltshire and Dorset together with s.w. Berks and s.w. Gloucestershire; there is also a Winterburn in Yorkshire. The mod. use of the word as a common name has not been satisfactorily accounted for.] An intermittent stream, such as those found in chalk and limestone districts, which flows only in winter or at long intervals.
930. in Birch, Cartul. Sax., II. 348. [Gloucestershire] In winterburnan … swa on oðærne winterburnan.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John xviii. 1. Ofer þæt burna vel uinterburna [L. trans torrentem].
[1774. J. Hutchins, Hist. Dorset, I. Introd. p. lxxv. Winterborn N. rises at Winterborn Howton…. This rivulet seldom runs farther than Clenston in the summer, and thus answers to its Saxon name Wintreburn.]
1851. Kingsley, Yeast, i. One of those noble springs known as winter-bournes in the chalk ranges.
1884. Jukes-Browne, Phys. Geol., 86. The nailbournes [see EYLEBOURN] and winterbournes of the south of England are caused by a gradual rise in the line of saturation under the chalk-hills till the water reaches a level at which there is free egress into some valley or depression.
1895. Saintsbury, Ess. Engl. Lit., Ser. II. 79. The flashing of the winterbournes as they spring from the turf where they have lain hid.
