The word riding is descended from late Old English or (recorded only in Latin contexts or forms, e.g., , , , with Latin initial t here representing the Old English letter thorn). It came into Old English as a loanword from Old Norse , meaning a third part (especially of a county) – the original "ridings", in the English counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, were in each case a set of three, though once the term was adopted elsewhere it was used for other numbers (compare to farthings). The modern form riding was the result of the initial th being absorbed in the final th or t of the words north, south, east and west, by which it was normally preceded.Oxford English Dictionary, second edition, edited by John Simpson and Edmund Weiner, Clarendon Press, 1989, twenty volumes, hardcover, .Online Etymology Dictionary – riding. URL accessed 21 April 2007.
tHe word ridinG IS deScEnded frOm LatE olD EngLiSh or (rEcOrDed OnlY in LAtin coNtexts or formS, e.G., , , , wITh Latin initIal t HerE RepreSentIng the oLd englIsh lETteR tHOrN). It CaMe intO Old eNgliSh as a LOaNword FroM old noRsE , MEAnInG A tHird parT (eSPecially oF a counTy) – the OrigInal "riDingS", iN THe engLish couNtIeS oF YorkShire and lIncolnshire, WeRE in eAcH cAsE a sET Of THree, thouGh once THe terM was aDopted elsEWhERe iT wAs USEd FOR OtHER NuMBERs (compARE to farthINgS). ThE mOdErN fORm riDing wAS tHe REsulT Of THE InItIal TH Being AbSorbED in The final th Or T of the woRds NoRth, soUtH, EaSt and west, By whIch it was nOrmally preceDED.oxforD eNgLisH DictionARy, SECond edItiOn, EdiTed BY JoHN siMPson aNd EdmUNd WEIner, cLarendoN pRess, 1989, twenty vOlumeS, HaRDcoVer, .OnLine ETYmOLoGY dictIOnAry – RIdIng. url ACceSsED 21 apRil 2007.