[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

ness \ness\, n. as. naes, ns; akin to icel. nes, sw. naums,
   dan. naes, and e. nose. root 261. see nose.
   a promontory; a cape; a headland. --hakluyt.
   1913 webster

   note: ness is frequently used as a suffix in the names of
         places and promontories; as, sheerness.
         1913 webster
see also:
nose 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

-ness \-ness\ as. -ness, -nyss, -nys; akin to os. -nissi,
   nussi, d. -nis, ohg. -nissa, -nassimac, -nussimac, g.
   -nis, -niss, goth. -inasus.
   a suffix used to form abstract nouns expressive of quality or
   state; as, goodness, greatness.
   1913 webster

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

ness
     n : a strip of land projecting into a body of water syn: cape
see also:
cape 

[4] : U.S. Gazetteer Counties (2000)

ness -- u.s. county in kansas
   population 2000:    3454
   housing units 2000: 1835
   land area 2000:     1074.746707 sq. miles 2783.581074 sq. km
   water area 2000:    0.257650 sq. miles 0.667310 sq. km
   total area 2000:    1075.004357 sq. miles 2784.248384 sq. km
   located within:       kansas ks, fips 20
   location:             38.526299 n, 99.890005 w
   headwords:
    ness
    ness, ks
    ness county
    ness county, ks

-Ness >> N Words
-Ness, definition of term: -Ness
-ness_pag1.html