The River Foss is in North Yorkshire, England. It is a tributary of the River Ouse. It rises in the Foss Crooks Woods near Oulston Reservoir close to the village of Yearsley and runs south through the Vale of York to the Ouse in the centre of York. The name most likely comes from the Latin word Fossa, meaning ditch. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The York district was settled by Norwegian and Danish people, so parts of the place names could be old Norse. Referring to the etymological dictionary "Etymologisk ordbog", deals with the common Danish and Norwegian languages – roots of words and the original meaning. The old Norse word Fos (waterfall) means impetuous. The River Foss was dammed, and even though the elevation to the River Ouse is small, a waterfall was formed. This may have led to the name Fos which became Foss.
the river foss is in north yorkshire england it is a tributary of the river ouse it rises in the foss crooks woods near oulston reservoir close to the village of yearsley and runs south through the vale of york to the ouse in the centre of york the name most likely comes from the latin word fossa meaning ditch it is mentioned in the domesday book the york district was settled by norwegian and danish people so parts of the place names could be old norse referring to the etymological dictionary "etymologisk ordbog" deals with the common danish and norwegian languages – roots of words and the original meaning the old norse word fos (waterfall) means impetuous the river foss was dammed and even though the elevation to the river ouse is small a waterfall was formed this may have led to the name fos which became foss