Editing Rotselaar (section)

==Etymology==

===Origin of the names Rotselaar, Wezemaal and Werchter===

The origin of the [[placename]]s is unclear. Rotselaar is thought to mean "laar of Hrosda". A ''laar'' (plural form is ''laren'') is an open spot or clearing in a forest suitable for living, ''laren'' were used quite intensively by man in the past, amongst others for grazing the cattle, and Hrosda is a male [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] name. [[Wezemaal]] is believed to come from "Wis" and "male" (a [[Depression (geology)|depression]]), and [[Werchter]] is thought to be a watername, but the meaning of the name is unknown.<ref name="History">{{cite web
|url=http://www.rotselaar.be/Index.aspx?SGREF=3955
|title=Geschiedenis
|publisher=The Municipality of Rotselaar
|access-date=2007-07-05
|language=nl
}}</ref>

When the name of Rotselaar first appeared in written accounts, it was spelled "Rotslar". Over the centuries, this evolved into "Rotselaer", and eventually into "Rotselaar". In [[Middle Dutch]], the "e" in "Rotsel'''ae'''r" was used to show that the vowel preceding it sounds longer, in modern spelling the vowel is doubled to achieve the same effect, which gives "Rotsel'''aa'''r".

===Meanings of the name Rotselaar===

The name "Rotselaar" can have four different meanings, and it is important to make a distinction between these meanings in order to avoid ambiguities. In a first meaning, "Rotselaar" refers to the whole of the [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of Rotselaar as it exists since the merger of municipalities that came into effect on 1 January 1977 and reduced the number of autonomous municipalities in [[Belgium]] to 589. If used in this sense, the name "Rotselaar" includes [[Wezemaal]] and [[Werchter]]. The term "Groot-Rotselaar" (Greater Rotselaar) is also commonly used to refer to Rotselaar, Wezemaal and Werchter as a whole. In a second meaning, "Rotselaar" refers specifically to the town of Rotselaar proper as it existed before the merger with Wezemaal and Werchter in 1977. This is, especially within Groot-Rotselaar, the most common meaning of the name "Rotselaar". In a third meaning, "Rotselaar" refers to the historical Land of Rotselaar, which comprised not only modern-day Rotselaar, Wezemaal and Werchter, but also other villages, such as [[Haacht]] and [[Wakkerzeel]]. The name "Rotselaar" in this sense is rarely used.

Rotselaar can also have a fourth meaning, where it refers to Rotselaar-Centre, as opposed to Rotselaar Heikant, which is also referred to as simply "Heikant". Rotselaar proper (as it existed prior to 1977) consists of two parts: Rotselaar-Centre and Rotselaar Heikant. If used in this sense, the name "Rotselaar" refers only to Rotselaar-Centre and doesn't include Heikant. In most cases, the name "Rotselaar" includes Rotselaar Heikant, but the name "Heikant" is commonly used to distinguish between the two parts of Rotselaar.