Torfaen

[ tawr-vahyn, tawr-vahyn ]

noun

1. a county in southeastern Wales. 49 sq. mi. (126 sq. km).

Torfaen

/ ˈtɔːˌvæn /

noun

1. a county borough of SE Wales, created in 1996 from part of Gwent. Administrative centre: Pontypool. Pop: 90 700 (2003 est). Area: 290 sq km (112 sq miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Torfaen¹

From Welsh Torfaen “Breaker of Stones,” the former name of the Afon Lwyd (Gray River), from tor “a break” + faen (mutated form of maen “stone”; dolmen ( def ), menhir ( def ) ); compare Welsh tormaen “saxifrage,” literally, “stone break”