Know the Etymology: 50
Place Name of the Day: Thursday, 23 March 2017

Nallūr, Mūtūr, Campūr, Nallura, Palē-ūruva

நல்லூர், மூதூர், சம்பூர், நல்லுர, பலே-ஊருவ
Nallūr, Mūtūr, Campūr, Nallura, Palē-ūruva

Nal+ūr
Mutu+ūr
Campu+ūr
Nal+ura
Palē+ūruva

The good or prosperous city/ town/ village

The ancient town/ village

The village found with Campu reed

The good or prosperous town/ village

The old or former town/ village

Ūr	village, town, city (Tamil, DED 752, Kuṟuntokai, 12: 6); common suffix found in place names (Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, ETE, App. III; Caṅkam usage, Kuṟuntokai, 15: 3); village, town, city (Malayalam, DED 752); village, town (Kannada, DED 752); Ūru: village, town (Tulu, Telugu, DED 752; Tamil, Brahmi inscription, ETE 52); cognates in 12 Dravidian languages including Brahui of Pakistan; Uṟu: (verb) to dwell (Tamil, DED 710); Uṟai: (verb) to dwell, reside; (noun) place of residence (Tamil, DED 710)
Nallūr	Nal+ūr (DED 3610+752); literally meaning an excellent, benevolent or prosperous city/ town/ village; comes as the name or part of the name of some major villages, towns and cities of ancient times (Tamil, Puṟanāṉūṟu, 24: 17; 144: 14); Nalli-ūr: a place name found in a Tamil Brahmi inscription (ETE, 66); Nal: good (Tamil, DED 3610, ETE 17); Nalla: good, fine, excellent, abundant, (Tamil, DED 3610); Nalam: goodness, reputation, fame, prosperity, welfare (Tamil, DED 3610); Ūr: village, town, city (see box on Ūr)
Mūtūr	Mutu+ūr (DED 4954+752); literally meaning the ancient village/ town/ city; comes as the name or part of the name of some ancient towns and cities (Tamil, Akanāṉūṟu, 165: 5: Kuṟuntokai, 293; Kuṟiñcippāṭṭu, 236); comes in the name of the ancient city of Matirai/ Maturai (Cilappatikāram, 30: 109); comes in the name of the ancient city of Kāñci (Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai, 411); Mutu: old, ancient (Tamil, DED 4954); cognates in 14 Dravidian languages including Brahui of Pakistan; Ūr: village, town, city (see box on Ūr)
Campūr	Campu+ūr: Campu, Campaṅ-kōrai, Caṇpu: a kind of grass, elephant grass, Typha elephantina, (Tamil, DED 2347, Tēvāram, 3: 113: 9; 1: 102: 6); Jampu: a kind of reed or hedge, Typha angustifolia (Kannada, DED 2347); a bulrush, sedge (Telugu, DED 2347); Hambu-pan: reed mace, Typha angustifolia (Sinhala, Clough); 1. Paṁba: a kind of brushwood of which there are varieties, Ẹt-paṁba, Maha-paṁba and Hīn-paṁba, Lugodium (Sinhala, Clough); Paṁbayā: scarecrow, figure of a man made of the Paṁba (Sinhala, Clough); Pampai: the reed equated to Paṁba (Eezham Tamil); Pammu: (verb) to be close, thick, crowded as shrubs in a thicket (Tamil, DED 3949, Tēvāram, 2: 84: 1); Pañcāy: a kind of Kōrai grass or reed, used in making dolls, Cyperus rotundus (Tamil, MTL, Canṅkam diction, Kuṟuntokai 276: 1-2); Pommai: puppet, doll, effigy (Tamil, DED 4530); Bombe: puppet, doll, effigy (Kannada, Tulu, DED 4530); 2. Ceṇṭu: ball used in game, ball of thread (Tamil, DED 2766); in the context of Caṇpu, may be standing for its mace-like flower; Ceṇṭu: cluster of flowers, ball to play with (Telugu, DED 2766); Ūr: see box on Ūr. Also see column 335 on Jaṁbu-kola-paṭṭana
Palē	in the context of the place name, Sinhalicised from Paḻa, Paḻaya: old, former (Tamil, DED 3999); Paḷamu: former, prior, previous, before, past, gone by (Sinhala, Clough); Paḻama: old times (Malayalam, DED 3999); Paḻamai: oldness, that which is ancient, what is obsolete (Tamil, DED 3999)
Ura	as in Nallura: in the context of the place name, Sinhalicised form of Ūr: see boxes on Ūr and Nallūr
Ūruva	as in Pale-ūruva: in the context of the place name, Sinhalicised form of Ūr: see boxes on Ūr, Ura and Pale

In Tamil usage, Ūr is the most common and most prestigious word for a village. It is also used in speech to mean one's home place or home country. In ancient Tamil usage, Ūr was an affluent, well-established and protected settlement, having its own fame and identity. The term stood for a city or town as well. It is the most popular settlement-related term found used in the Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. Ūr is listed as Dravidian (DED 752). The etymology may be related to the verbs, Uṟu and Uṟai, meaning to dwell (DED 710).

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Nallūr, a phrase of the components Nal and Ūr, and literally meaning a good/ benevolent/ prosperous village or town/ city in Tamil, was found used to stand for prestigious places including capitals in ancient Tamil. The phrase, seen from the Caṅkam times, became more popular in the early medieval centuries.

Mūtūr, a phrase of the components Mutu and Ūr, and literally meaning an ancient village/ town/ city, was found used in standing for settlements of a long heritage, including capitals like the city of Matirai/ Maturai and Kāñci.

See boxes above on the etymology of Nal and Mutu.

Nallura and Nallūruva noticed in Sinhala place names correspond to Nallūr in Tamil.

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Nallūr in Caṅkam Tamil usage:

“தாங்கா உறையுள் நல்லூர்” (புறநானூறு, 24: 17)

“Tāṅkā uṟaiyuḷ Nallūr” (Puṟanāṉūṟu, 24: 17)

The good village or town of overcrowded houses


“இடைக்கழி நாட்டு நல்லூர் நத்தத்தனார்” (சிறுபாணாற்றுப்படை பாடியவர்)

“Iṭaikkaḻi-nāṭṭu Nallūr Nattattanār” (Author of Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai)

Nattattanār (personal name) of the village/ town called Nallūr in the territory of Itaikkaḻi-nāṭu

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Mūthoor in Caṅkam Tamil usage:

“விழவு மேம்பட்ட பழவிறல் மூதூர்” (பெரும்பாணாற்றுப்படை 411)

“Viḻavu mēmpaṭṭa paḻaviṟal mūtūr” (Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai 411)

Mūtūr, the place of ancient fame and of many festivals [the city of Kāñci in this context]

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Palē-ūra, now treated as a Sinhala place name in Vavuniya South Sinhala division, where settlement activities took place in the last century, obviously means an old village or former village that existed there.

Palē in this context corresponds to Paḻa/ Paḻaya in Tamil, meaning old or former. Sinhala itself has a cognate Paḷamu meaning the same, corresponding to Paḻama in Malayalam and Paḻamai in Tamil.

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The prefix Campu as found in Campūr, stands for a kind of reed, as this prefix is noticed in this meaning in other Eezham Tamil place names too. In Campūr itself there is a pond called Campuk-kuḷam, and a marsh called Campuk-kaḷi-villu (One Inch sheet). The Campu reed grows along freshwater sources and in marshes.

The terms Campu, Campaṅ-kōrai and Caṇpu, meaning elephant grass, is listed as Tamil/ Dravidian. Hambu-pan in Sinhala means the same species (C/ H change). There is a probability that Paṁba in Sinhala and Pampai in Eezham Tamil, meaning a kind of reed that is used in making effigies, scarecrows etc., is also related to the same term (C/ H/ P change). See another column on Paṁba. The term Campu/ Caṇpu may also be related to its mace-like flower, as Ceṇtu means the same in Tamil/ Dravidian. See box on Campu.

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Nallūr, which was once the capital of the Kingdom of Jaffna, is headquarters of a division by its name in Jaffna district. There are two other places having the name Nallūr in Poonakari division of Kilinochchi district and in Mūtūr division of Trincomalee district.

Mūtūr is headquarters of a division by its name in Trincomalee district.

Campūr is a place in Mūtūr division of Trincomalee district. A pond called Campuk-kuḷam is found at this place (One Inch sheet)

Nallura is in Panduwasnuwara West division of Kurunegala district.

Pale-ūruva is a place in Vavuniya South Sinhala division of Vavuniya district

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Some related place names:


Ūr:

Puttūr: Valikamam East, Jaffna

Pācaiyūr: The village paying fishing tax; or the village taken the fishing contract; Jaffna division, Jaffna district

Uḻavaṉūr: The village of cultivators; Ka'ndaava'lai division, Ki'linochchi district; Oddusuddaan division, Mullaiththeevu district

Eḻuttūr: The village that was endowed; Mannaar Town division, Mannaar district

Marakkāyarūr: The village of a navigator (Marakkaayar: usually a Muslim navigator); Musali division, Mannaar district

Kurukkaḷūr: The village of a Saiva Brahmin; Oddusuddaan division, Mullaiththeevu district

Murukaṉūr: The village of God Murukan; Oddusuddaan division, Mullaiththeevu district

Kuruntūrk-kuḷam: Karathuraippattu, Mullaiththevu

Kaḷappūr: The village of the backwaters; Kaaraitheevu division, Amparai district

Kaṭalūr: The seaside village; Koa'ra'laippattu division, Batticaloa district; Kuchchave'li division, Trincomalee district

Pālaiyūr: The village of a Paalai tree; Ea'raavoor pattu division, Batticaloa district

Vēlūr: The village of the Veal (God Murukan worshipped in the form of Veal), Kuchchave'li division, Trincomalee district

Kallaṭi-vēlūr: The village of the Veal (God Murukan worshipped in the form of Veal), which is part of the Kalladi village; Manmunai North division, Batticaloa district

Tiruccentūr: The village named after Thiruchchenthoor in Tamil Nadu; Manmunai North division, Batticaloa district

Makiḻūr: The village of Makizha trees; Ma'nmunai South division, Batticaloa district

Nintavūr: Ninthavur, Amparai

Ērāvūr: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Putūr: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa

Centūr: The village named after Thiruchchenthoor in Tamil Nadu; Kuchchave'li division, Trincomalee district

Tañcāvūr: The village named after Thagnchaavoor in Tamil Nadu; Kuchchave'li division, Trincomalee district

Cēṉaiyūr: The village of the shifting cultivation field; Mūtūr division, Trincomalee district

Tiruk-kaṭalūr: The sacred seaside village; Trincomalee Town and Gravets division, Trincomalee district

Tōppūr: Tōppu+ūr; Mūtūr, Trincomalee. Tōppu: grove; from Tokuppu > Tōppu; Toku: (verb) to collect, to assemble, accumulate, (Tamil, DED, 3476)

Tirumēṉiyūr: near Kuñcukkuḷam, Vavuniya (One Inch sheet). Tirumēni: a term meaning a priest or a person who intimately handles the image of a deity.

Ūr-vaṇikaṉ-paṟṟu: Pachchlaippali. Kilinochchi

Ūreḻu: Ūr+eḻu: Valikamam East, Jaffna.

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Ura, Ūruva:

Nallūruva: Panadura, Kalutara

Kollura: Polgahawela, Kurunegala

Kalayanūruva: near Pūmaṭu, Vavuniya South, Sinhala Division, Vavuniya (One Inch Sheet)

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Campu:

Camput-tuṟai: a coastal place near Mātakal, Jaffna. The place is identified with Jaṁbu-kola-paṭṭana of Pali chronicles. Tuṟai: port

Campuk-kuḷam: Mūtūr, Trincomalee; Kandavalai, Kilinochchi. The former is found at Campūr (One inch sheet)

Campuk-kaḻi-villu: a marsh found in Campūr, in Mūtūr, Tricomalee. Villu: marsh, pond; Kaḷi: alkaline soil; Kaḻi: sea arm

Campuk-kaḻi: a locality in Marutaṭic-cēṉai (V-Almanac)

Campuk-kēṇi: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Campu-nakar: Addalaichchenai, Amparai. Nakar probably replaced an earlier suffix

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Sembu:

Sembu-kuliya: Mahakumbukkadawala, Puttalam. Sembu: either from Campu grass or from Cēmpu an aquatic yam

Sembu-kaṭṭiya: Madape, Puttalam. Sembu: see Sembu-kuliya

Sembu-kulama: Thirappane, Anuradhapura. Sempu: see Sembu-kuliya

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Cempi, Cempaṉ:

Cempi-mōṭṭai: Kinniya, Trincomalee. Cempi: see Sempu-kuliya

Cempaṉ-kuḷam: Poonakari, Kilinochchi. Cempaṉ: see Sembu-kuliya

Cempaṉ-kuṇṭu: Poonakari, Kilinochchi. Cempan: see Sembu-kuliya

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Notes:

Campu:

Campu (Typha augustifolia) is a reed or sedge that grows in pools of stagnant water or along the fringes of tanks, lakes and reservoirs. It is known for it luxuriant growth and is widely found in the island.

It prevents coastal erosion and provides nestling for water birds and other aquatic life.

The Campu reed can be easily identified from its cylindrical and rod-like flowers. The upper half of the flower is the male part and the lower is the female part. The male part withers, leaving a thickened female part of seeds.

In some parts of the world, the reed and its flowers are considered edible.

The reed is used for thatching and to make coarse baskets and mats.

Campan-kūṭu or Campan-kūṭai is a basket and Campaik-koṅkāṇi is a hood to cover head and shoulders, made of this reed.

Campaik-kōḻi, a water bird mentioned in the early Tamil lexicons, is said to eat the flowers of the reed.

Caṇpu is the name of a reed grass found in early Tamil diction, which is equated with Campu reed. Caṇpai is a place name referred to in Maṇimēkalai, which was probably connected to the Caṇpu reed. It was one of the names of Cīrkāḻi, situated in the estuary of Kāvēri River.

Also note the following relevant usages in the old Tamil lexicons: Cammaṭṭi (Ceṇṭu: mace) and Cāppai (reed-mat).

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Revised: Thursday, 23 March 2017, 23:30

First published: Wednesday, 08 August 2007, 01:00