The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ness \Ness\, n. [AS. naes, ns; akin to Icel. nes, Sw. n[aum]s,
   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]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

-ness \-ness\ [AS. -ness, -nyss, -nys; akin to OS. -nissi,
   nussi, D. -nis, OHG. -nissa, -nass[imac], -nuss[imac], G.
   -nis, -niss, Goth. -inasus.]
   A suffix used to form abstract nouns expressive of quality or
   state; as, goodness, greatness.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ness
    n 1: a strip of land projecting into a body of water [syn:
         cape, ness]