what is a dale

A dale is a valley, usually a long, open low area between hills. It’s a common word in some place names and older English usage, especially in northern England.

Meaning

A dale is typically:

• A valley or open lowland.
• Often gently sloping.
• Sometimes with a stream or river running through it.

Word use

People may say things like:

• “over hill and dale,” meaning across hills and valleys.
• “a green dale,” meaning a grassy valley.

Name confusion

“Dale” can also be a name or part of a place name, and it can refer to fictional places in some stories, so the meaning depends on context.