A combe can refer either to a steep, narrow valley, or to a small valley or large hollow on the side of a hill; in any case, it is often understood simply to mean a small valley through which a watercourse does not run.

What does word combe mean?

1 British : a deep narrow valley. 2 British : a valley or basin on the flank of a hill.

What does combe mean in Ilfracombe?

Combe is pronounced cooom as in 'moon' rather than 'umm' as in 'come'. There are several place names on the coast which include 'combe' in some way. This is because 'combe' means valley and we have lots of those because we have lots of hills! Woolacombe, for example, means Valley of the Wolves.