In the Hudson Valley of eastern United States, a vlaie, vly /vlaɪ/orfly /flaɪ/ is a swampormarsh. It also applies to creeks and areas in the vicinities.[1] The term appears in place names in areas of Dutch influence, formerly New Netherland.
The terms are from a dialectal form of the Middle Dutch word valeye ("valley", spelled valleiinModern Dutch).[2][3] However, the meaning shifted to "swamp" when used by New Netherlanders. Variants such as vley and vlei are also found.[3] The English spelling of vleigh is probably under influence of rhymes like sleigh and weigh.[4]
The Afrikaans word vlei ("shallow lake") is a cognate, descended from the same Middle Dutch word.[2] The Vlie, a channel in Frisia, may not be related, as it is likely from the Latin Flevo.[5]
Examples of names of swamps, streams, lakes, and mountains which contain vlaie or other variant spellings:
*pleu, dat nog voortleeft in lat. germ. Flevo, Flevum, mnl. Fleo, Fli, nnl. Vlie 'waddenstroom aan de Friese kust'.
