-bury

From Old English byriġ, the dative case of burg (“fortified place”) (whence borough).

Due to the collapse of the case system between Old and Middle English, many placenames retain a fossilized dative form, as places would most commonly have been invoked in the dative (after a preposition in, at, to etc.).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /-bɹi/, /-bəɹi/, /-bɹɪ/, /-bəɹɪ/
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /-bɹi/, /-bɘɹi/

-bury

1. A placename suffix indicating a fortified place.

• -borough
• -boro
• -burg
• -burgh

• bur-

• Ruby, ruby