Know the Etymology: 163
Place Name of the Day: Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Kal-piṭiya/ Kaṟ-piṭṭi, Puvak-piṭiya, Tavalam-piṭiya, Potu-piṭiya

கல்-பி[ட்]டிய/கற்பிட்டி, புவக்-பி[ட்]டிய, தவலம்-பி[ட்]டிய, பொ[த்]து-பி[ட்]டிய
Kal-piṭiya/ Kaṟ-piṭṭi, Puvak-piṭiya, Tavalam-piṭiya, Potu-piṭiya

Kal+piṭiya
Puvak+piṭiya
Tavalam+piṭiya
Potu+piṭiya+piddi

The stony mound/ bank/ high ground

The table ground having areca nut palms

The vacant plain-ground serving as mart for travelling traders coming with oxen-laden goods

The Potu grassland

Piṭiya1	a raised ground, a table ground little higher than the surroundings (Sinhala, noticed in the context of Sinhala place names in the western and southern coastal tract); 1. Piṭa, Piṭu: top, summit, “Matta” (Sinhala, Sorata); as in Gaň-piṭu: riverbank, “Gańga-matta” (Sinhala, Sorata); Piṭi-bim: hill bank, “Ōviṭi-iḍama” (Sinhala, Sorata); 2. Viṭi: plural of Viṭa: mountain (Sinhala, Clough); “Piṭa, Matta” (Sinhala, Sorata); Viṭam, Viṭari: mountain (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, DED 5474); 3. Bhiṭṭa: mound (Sanskrit, CDIAL 9491); Biṭe: a shore (Maltese, DED 5474); Beṭṭa: hill, mountain (Kodagu, Kannada, DED 5474); Biṭ, Buṭ: mound, hillock (Brahui, DED 5474); 4. Pīṭha: stool, bench (Sanskrit, non Indo-Aryan origin noted, CDIAL 8222); Puṭu, Puṭuva: seat, chair, stool (Sinhala, Clough); 5. Piṭṭi, Puṭṭi: mound, bank, dune, sandbank islet, raised ground, low mound, table ground little higher than the surroundings, (Eezham Tamil); Puṭai: (verb) to swell, puff up (Tamil, DED 4253); Puṭi, Puṭṭi: old Maldivian form of Fuśi, Fuṭṭā, Huṭṭā: minor island, island formed with stones and pebbles, unproductive island (Dhivehi/ Maldivian, DBF, Isdhoo Copper Plates, 1195- 1196 CE); Pīṭilikai: raised ground, high ground (Tamil, inscription, 550 CE, TASSI, 1958-59, pp. 41-83). See columns on Hiṭiya and Viṭa in Sinhala and Piṭṭi, Puṭṭi, Ciṭṭi, Iṭṭi, Tiṭṭi in Tamil
Piṭiya2	plain tract of ground (Sinhala, Clough); Piṭi: = Piṭaniya: vacant ground without vegetation, "Vṛkṣalatādiya nẹti his bima" (Sinhala, Sorata); 1. Pīṭu: waste, uncultivated land (Tamil, DED 4219); Viṭu-nilam: barren land (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Akanāṉuṛu, 321: 8); Bīḍu: waste, uncultivated land (Kannada, Telugu, DED 4219); 2. Paṭṭai: flatness (Tamil, DED 3878); Paṭṭi: spreading space (Kodagu, DED 3878); Maṇa-paṭṭi: sandbank (Kodagu, DED 3878); 3. Baṭṭi: bare ground (Parji, DED 5233); Vaṭṭi: empty, vacant (Telugu, DED 5233);
Piṭiya3	ground for social games (Sinhala, Clough); as in Aň-piṭiya: the ground for the 'Horn-game', a tug-of-war, played by a village divided into two parties (Sinhala, see column on Aň-keḷi-piṭiya); Pora-pol-piṭiya: the ground to play the coconut breaking competition (Sinhala, Clough, Pora-pol: Pōr-Tēṅkāy, Tamil: Poru: verb: to fight, compete, Tamil, DED 4540); Pora-piṭi: "Pora allana piṭiya" (Sinhala, Sorata); see Piṭiya 2
Piṭiya4	grassland, "Taṇa-bima" (Sinhala, Sorata); see Piṭiya 2
Piṭi1	plural and conjunction form of Piṭiya. See Piṭiya 1 to Piṭiya 4
Piṭi2	"Passā pẹtta, Piṭa, Piṭata" (Sinhala, Sorata); back, out, outside, outward (Sinhala, Clough). See box on Piṭa, column 237)
Puvak	areca nut palm, Areca catechu (Sinhala, Clough); Pākku: areca nut, areca nut palm (Tamil, DED 4048, Iṉṉā-nāṟpatu, 39); Pūga in Sanskrit is traced to Dravidian (CDIAL 8313); Pūkam: areca nut (Tamil, Tēvāram, 1:4:4); Fuvah, Fuake: areca nut (Dhivehi/ Maldivian, DBF)

Piṭiya and Piṭṭi are popular place name components in Sinhala and Eezham Tamil.

The term Piṭi is noticed as a place name component in the Brahmi inscriptions of the island.

While there is a variation Hiṭiya in Sinhala place names, variations such as Puṭṭi, Ciṭṭi, Iṭṭi and Tiṭṭi could be found in Eezham Tamil place names. The form Puṭṭi/ Puṭi could be found in early Maldivian place names too, which has become Fuśi/ Fuṭṭā/ Huṭṭā in today's renderings.

Sorata's Sinhala dictionary comes out with three toponymically relevant meanings for Piṭi: a vacant ground without vegetation (Piṭaniya); ground for social games or gatherings, and grassland. According to Clough, Piṭiya means a plain tract of ground. The meanings are obviously related.

However, looking at the usage examples found in the Brahmi inscriptions and in considerable number of the extant Sinhala place names, Piṭiya is not merely a plain ground without vegetation. It also seems to be meaning a bank, high ground, mound or raised table ground. The usage in the latter shade of meaning is mostly found in the coastal tract and corresponds to such usage in the Eezham Tamil place names.

In such a meaning, Piṭiya in Sinhala is related to Piṭa/ Piṭu/ Viṭi/ Viṭa, meaning Matta (top, high ground) in Sinhala (Sorata). Note the usage example Gaň-piṭu meaning riverbank (Gańga-matta) in Sinhala. Sanskrit has a cognates Bhiṭṭa meaning mound, and Piṭha meaning stool or bench (relevant to table ground, traced to non Indo-Aryan, CDIAL 8222), but relevant cognates in Dravidian are many. See box on Piṭiya 1 and also the columns on Piṭṭi, Puṭṭi, Ciṭṭi, Iṭṭi and Tiṭṭi in Eezham Tamil place names.

Piṭi coming as prefix in some Sinhala place names may also mean anything outside (coming from another etymon Piṭa). See boxes above and related place names below.

* * *

Toponymic usage of Piṭi in the Brahmi inscriptions of the island:


Piṭi as a tableland or plain identified by trees found in that land:

"Puna-piṭika vavi hamika upasaka Viṇuya leṇe sagasa [dine]" (early Brahmi inscription, Tōrava Mayilẹva, Kurunegala district, IC, Vol I, inscription no. 1218)

The cave of (donated by) the lay devotee Viṇu, the proprietor of the tank at Puna-piṭi [Puna as place name component in Brahmi inscriptions comes in other examples also, such as Puna-kaḍaka-vava, IC, Vol II, no. 75; Kaḍa in Sinhala and Kāṭu in Tamil/ Dravidian mean a forest; the component Puna may be related to the word in old Sinhala meaning the tree Calophyllum inophyllum, and to Puṉṉai in Tamil/ Dravidian, DED 4343, meaning the same tree. In such a case Puna-piṭika-vavi may mean a tank located at the plain or tableland of Puna trees. In another possibility, Puṉam in old Tamil means forest-cleared cultivation land, equal to Hēna in Sinhala]


Piṭi as bank or raised ground found along canals, tanks etc.:

"Raja-aḍi-piṭiya" (late Brahmi inscription, Mīn-vila, Kanda-kāḍu, Welikanda division, Polonnaruwa district, IC Vol II, no. 26)

Raja-aḍi-piṭiya (comes as the name of a village donated to a Buddhist monastery; the place name literally means the bank of the royal canal; Aḍi: canal in Brahmi inscriptions)

"Upala-vilaka-piṭiya…buki sagahaṭa dini" (late Brahmi inscription, Nelugala, Eravur division, Batticaloa district, IC, Vol II, no. 79)

The land or place called 'Upala-vilaka-piṭiya' was given to the benefit of the community of Buddhist monks (the place name literally means the bank of the lotus pond)


The form Piṭini as place name component, perhaps meaning vacant ground:

"Rata-karavaka-piṭini" (late Brahmi inscription, Tennakōn-gama, Kurunegala district, IC, Vol II, no. 70)

Comes as a place name in the inscription, marking boundary. May literally mean, 'the Red-bank vacant ground'. Piṭini may correspond to Piṭaniya in Sinhala meaning vacant land and cited as one of the meanings of Piṭi by Sorata. See box on Piṭiya 2.

* * *

Puvak meaning areca nut in Sinhala corresponds to the cognates Pūkam and Pākku in Tamil meaning the same. Pākku is listed as Dravidian (DED 4048), while the Sanskrit form Pūga is traced to Dravidian (CDIAL 8313).

See other columns for Tavalam meaning a mart of travelling traders, Potu meaning a kind of mat-making grass and Kal meaning stone, rock etc., in Tamil as well as in Sinhala (Sorata). Kaṟ in Tamil is the conjunction form of Kal.

* * *

Kal-piṭiya in Sinhala and Kaṟ-piṭṭi in Tamil is headquarters of a division by its name in Puttalam district. Where a Dutch fort now stands on the seashore at this place was the original locality called Kaṟ-piṭṭi. The locality is a coral mound.

Puvak-piṭiya is a place in Seethawaka division of Colombo district. There are other places having the same name in Galewela division of Matale district, Matale division of Matale district and in Mahara division of Gampaha district.

Tavalam-piṭiya is in Mirigama division of Gampaha district.

Potu-piṭiya is found as place name in Kalutara division of Kalutara district; Narammala division of Kurunegala district and in Kalawana division of Ratnapura district.

* * *

Some related place names:


Piṭiya: suffix


Kollu-pitiya: Colombo City, Colombo. Kollu/ Koḷḷu: may be related to Colombo (Koḷaṁba) as the place is adjacent to the coastal tip (Koḷu) that was the origin of today’s Colombo

Mādam-piṭiya: Colombo, Colombo. Mā-dam: the common Jambolana tree, Euginea jambolana (Clough); Mā-daň: a tree bearing a small fruit, Calyptranthes cumini (Clough);

Jintu-piṭiya: Colombo, Colombo

Huṇu-piṭiya: Colombo, Colombo; Negombo, Gampaha; Kelaniya, Gampaha. Huṇu: lime, limestone; Uṇu, Uṇa: bamboo

Vẹllam-piṭiya: Kolonnawa, Colombo

Arup-piṭiya: Kaduwela, Colombo. Aru: ascending (Sorata); Ēṟu: (verb) to ascend; ascending (Tamil, DED 916)

Veraḷu-piṭiya: Seethawaka, Colombo. Veraḷu: a tree, wild olive, Elæocarpus serratus (Clough);

Kahaṭa-piṭiya: Seethawaka, Colombo; Udapalatha, Kandy; Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala. Kahaṭa:

Aň-gam-piṭiya: Padukka, Colombo; Wennapuwa, Puttalam

Talapat-piṭiya: Maharagama, Colombo

Panni-piṭiya: Maharagama, Colombo

Kara-gam-piṭiya: Dehiwala, Colombo. This is a coastal village. Kara/ Karā: sea, seashore, "Muhuda, Muhudaverala" (Sinhala, Sorata); Karai: shore, bank (Tamil, DED 1293)

Divul-piṭiya: Kesbewa, Colombo

Goraka-piṭiya: Kesbewa, Colombo

Dun-gāl-piṭiya: Negombo, Gampaha

Kaṭuva-piṭiya: Katana, Gampaha

Kiṁbulā-piṭiya: Katana, Gampaha

Kalaha-piṭiya: Katana, Gampaha. Kala: threshing floor, "Kamata" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kaḷam: threshing floor (Tamil, DED 1376)

Ala-vatu-piṭiya: Katana, Gampaha

Divula-piṭiya: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Palliya-piṭiya: Divulapitiya, Gampaha; Hikkaduwa, Galle

Maduru-piṭiya: Mirigama, Gampaha. Maduru: < Marutu: Terminalia arjuna

Kammal-piṭiya: Mirigama, Gampaha

Kẹṭakāla-piṭiya: Mirigama, Gampaha. Kẹṭakệla: a tree, Bridelia retusa (Clough)

Burulla-piṭiya: Minuwangoda, Gampaha. Burulla, Gurulla: a small tree, Leea sambucina (Clough)

Siyaṁbalā-piṭiya: Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Kegalle, Kegalle

Bō-piṭiya: Wattala, Gampaha; Mathugama, Kalutara; Pathahewaheta, Kandy; Akuressa, Matara; Pannala, Kurunegala; Kandaketiya, Badulla; Pelmadulla, Ratnapura; Warakapola, Kegalle

Keravala-piṭiya: Wattala, Gampaha. 1. Keravala: extremity, end (Sinhala, Clough); Karai: border, edge (Tamil, Malayalam, DED 1293); 2. Keravala < Keḷavara: end extremity (Sinhala, Clough); Kela: side (Kannada, DED 1969); Kellu: brink, edge (Tulu, DED 1969); 3. Karaivalai: seine-net (Tamil), the place is close to the coast and is a former fishing village

Nẹduru-piṭiya: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Ram-piṭiya: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Vẹli-gam-piṭiya: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Eḷuvā-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha. Eḷuvā: goat; Eḷu: goat, sheep (Sinhala, Clough); Ēḻakam: goat, male goat (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai, 326); Ēḍu: goat (Tulu, DED 5152); Ēḍikā: goat (Telugu, DED 5152)

Hiri-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha; Ganewatta, Kurunegala. Hiri, Hiri-gal: coral or limestone; probably from the use of coral, laterite and limestone in making building blocks. The wet laterite used to be cleaved and fresh coral used to sawn; Hiri, Hiri-gā: a good quality coral used in making large stone slabs or blocks (Dhivehi/ Maldivian); probably from Iri: splitting, cleaving, dividing, "Pẹḷīma, Pẹḷunu" (Sinhala, Sorata); Ari: (verb) to cut off; (noun) cutting (Tamil, DED 212); note the place name Hiri-gal-godẹlla

Kalal-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha; Ukuwela, Matale; Alawwa, Kurunegala. Kalal: mud, "Maḍa" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kaḷar: bog (Tamil, DED 1359); Kaḷi: thick pulp (Tamil, DED 1378); clay, potter's clay (Tamil, DED 1381)

Hal-gam-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha

Uḍa-tuttiri-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha. See Tuttiri-piṭiya

Lāvuḷu-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha. Lāvuḷu: a timber tree with edible fruit, Chrysophyllum roxburghii (Sinhala, Clough); probably from Lāvaka: "Kapannā" (Sorata); Lavana: cutting, reaping (Clough); Lāva: that which is cut off (Sanskrit, CDIAL 10974)

Hap-piṭiya: Attanagalla, Gampaha; Neluwa, Galle

Aṁba-gas-piṭiya: Mahara, Gampaha; Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Mal-vatu-hiri-piṭiya: Mahara, Gampaha

But-piṭiya: Mahara, Gampaha

Daḷu-piṭiya: Mahara, Gampaha

Pila-piṭiya: Kelaniya, Gampaha; Yatinuwara, Kandy; Udunuwara, Kandy. Pila: plant, Nerium (Clough)

Nāram-piṭiya: Panadura, Kalutara

Tal-piṭiya: Panadura, Kalutara

Kińdel-piṭiya: Bandaragama, Kalutara. Kińdaliya; marsh, bog (Sinhala, Clough); from Kińdanavā: (verb) to sink (Sinhala, Clough); Kantuni: (verb) to sink (Tulu, DED 1211); Kińdala: "Kuḍā vila" ; Kińdẹli: "Kuḍā ẹḷa" (Sorata)

Mā-du-piṭiya: Bandaragama, Kalutara

Hāla-piṭiya: Horana, Kalutara

Kahaṭa-piṭiya: Horana, Kalutara

Kańdana-piṭiya: Ingiriya, Kalutara

Yaṭa-gam-piṭiya: Bulathsinhala, Kalutara

Bẹlla-piṭiya: Madurawala, Kalutara

Veni-vẹl-piṭiya: Millaniya, Kalutara. Veni-vẹl: a creeper, Coscinium fenestratum (Clough); literally meaning, 'the jungle creeper'; Ven: forest; Vẹl: creeper

Maha-duru-piṭiya: Millaniya, Kalutara

Panā-piṭiya: Kalutara, Kalutara; Kahawatta, Ratnapura; Bulathkohupitiya, Kegalle

Aṁbē-piṭiya: Beruwala, Kalutara

Mulla-piṭiya: Beruwala, Kalutara

Vẹli-piṭiya: Beruwala, Kalutara; Welipitiya, Matara; Katuwana, Hambantota; Polpithigama, Kurunegala

Koṭa-piṭiya: Beruwala, Kalutara

Bondu-piṭiya: Mathugama, Kalutara. Bońda: "Isma" (Sorata)

Mora-piṭiya: Palindunuwara, Kalutara

Yaku-piṭiya: Palindunuwara, Kalutara

Haddā-piṭiya: Thumpane, Kandy

Uḍa-piṭiya: Thumpane, Kandy

Gaňgoḍa-piṭiya: Thumpane, Kandy

Tahal-piṭiya: Thumpane, Kandy.

Pujā-piṭiya: Pujapitiya, Kandy

Dip-piṭiya: Akurana, Kandy; Aranayake, Kegalle

Daṁba-gaha-piṭiya: Udadumbara, Kandy

Pōp-piṭiya: Udadumbara, Kandy. Pō: Pohoya

Dēnā-piṭiya: Udadumbara, Kandy

Daṁbē-piṭiya: Minipe, Kandy

Tōra-piṭiya: Minipe, gampaha

Vēra-piṭiya: Medadumbara, Kandy

Amu-piṭiya: Medadumbara, Kandy; Imbulpe, Ratnapura. Amu: 1. A plant of which there are five or six species in the island, Paspalum scrobiculatum (Clough); a millet, "Kṣudradānyavargayak" (Sorata)

Hī-piṭiya: Kundasale, Kandy

As-vala-piṭiya: Kundasale, Kandy

Ulladu-piṭiya: Harispattuva, Kandy

Ugurẹssa-piṭiya: Harispattuwa, Kandy

Nāraň-gas-piṭiya: Hatharaliyadda, Kandy

Sivuru-piṭiya: Hatharaliyadda, Kandy. Sivuru: "Cīvaraya" the dress of a Buddhist monk (Sorata); Sivru: a bird, Greek Partridge, (Clough)

Dē-dunu-piṭiya: Hatharaliyadda, Kandy

Pottē-piṭiya: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Mām-piṭiya: Udunuwara, Kandy; Bope-Poddala, Galle

Hiyārā-piṭiya: Udunuwara, Kandy. Hiyahirā? A herb? (Sorata)

Ẹl-piṭi-kanda: Udunuwara, Kandy

Baṭu-piṭiya: Udunuwara, Kandy

Del-gaha-piṭiya: Udunuwara, Kandy; Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Goḍom-piṭiya: Pathahewaheta, Kandy

Aň-keḷi-piṭiya: Pathahewaheta, Kandy

Mayila-piṭiya: Pathahewaheta, Kandy

Koṭagē-piṭiya: Deltota, Kandy; Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Hapu-gas-piṭiya: Udapalatha, Kandy

Bō-talā-piṭiya: Udapalatha, Kandy

Siňha-piṭiya: Udapalatha, Kandy

Milla-gas-piṭiya: Udapalatha, Kandy

Dẹl-piṭiya: Udapalatha, Kandy

Vahuga-piṭiya: Udapalatha, Kandy

Raṁbuk-piṭiya: Pasbage Korale, Kandy

Pẹlla-piṭiya: GI Korale, Kandy

Nā-vala-piṭiya: Pasbage Korale, Kandy

Kẹndō-piṭiya: Pasbage Korale, Kandy

Pannam-piṭiya: Dambulla, Matale

Mēl-piṭiya: Naula, Matale. Mēlā: "Sẹṇa-kẹḷiya" (Sorata); any public rejoicing, a festival celebrated when the moon is full in the constellation Pleiades (Kārtikai)

Lihiṇi-piṭiya: Naula, Matale

Mora-gas-piṭiya: Pallepola, Matale

Mā-talā-piṭiya: Yatawatta, Matale

Gańgala-puvak-piṭiya: Laggala-Pallegama, Matale

Palu-piṭiya: Wilgamuwa, Matale

Dunu-vila-piṭiya: Wilgamuwa, Matale

Ṭōp-vala-piṭiya: Wilgamuwa, Matale

Ul-pota-piṭiya: Rattota, Matale

Varā-piṭiya: Rattota, Matale; Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya; Walasmulla, Hambantota; Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa

Hora-gaha-piṭiya: Ukuwela, Matale

Dehi-piṭiya: Ukuwela, Matale

Uḍu-piṭiya: Ukuwela, Matale; Akuressa, Matara

Nuga-piṭiya: Ukuwela, Matale

Ulpata-piṭiya: Ukuwela, Matale

Iṁbul-piṭiya: Ukuwela, Matale

Kala-piṭiya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Kaḍa-dora-piṭiya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Buḷu-gaha-piṭiya: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya; Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura

Hańda-vala-piṭiya: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Iḍam-piṭiya: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya; Mawanella, Kegalle

Gōna-piṭiya: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Am-piṭi-goḍa: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Mugana-gaha-piṭiya: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Hapu-gaha-piṭiya: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Sēru-piṭiya: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya; Dehiattakandiya, Ampara

Aram-piṭiya: Walapane. Nuwara Eliya

Daham-piṭiya: Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya

Pol-piṭiya: Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya; Polgahawela, Kurunegala; Yatiyanthota, Kegalle

Hańgarā-piṭiya: Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya

Bala-piṭiya: Balapitiya, Galle

Maha-piṭiya: Balapitiya, Galle; Polgahawela, Kurunegala

Goḍa-piṭiya: Balapitiya, Galle; Aturaliya, Matara

Bō-gaha-piṭiya: Balapitiya, Galle; Kuliyapitiya East, Kurunegala

Mī-gas-piṭiya: Karandeniya, Galle; Panduwasnuwara West, Kurunegala

Ẹl-piṭiya: Elpitiya, Galle

Mārtu-piṭiya: Niyagama, Galle. Mā-ratu: a grass

Ẹhẹla-piṭiya: Neluwa, Galle

Mahala-piṭiya: Baddegama, Galle

Uḍu-hal-piṭiya: Hikkaduwa, Galle

Talā-piṭiya: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Kitulam-piṭiya: Bope-Poddala, Galle

Karā-piṭiya: Bope-Poddala, Galle

Mala-goḍa-piṭiya: Imaduwa, Galle

Mediri-piṭiya: Kotapola, Matara

Pōru-piṭiya: Kotapola, Matara. Pōru: Pora? Competition ground

Iḷuk-piṭiya: Kotapola, Matara

Kīri-piṭiya: Pasgoda, Matara. Kīri: Kihiri (Sorata); Acasia catechu (Clough); Kīri: a coastal shrub, Pemphis acidula (Tamil)

Neralam-piṭiya: Mulatiyana, Matara. Neraḷu: a tree, Elæodendrum glaucum (Clough)

Pēdda-piṭiya: Akuressa, Matara

Deni-piṭiya: Welipitiya, Matara

Varaka-piṭiya: Welipitiya, Matara

Kaṁburu-piṭiya: Kamburupitiya, Matara

Palol-piṭiya: Kamburupitiya, Matara

Gam-mẹda-piṭiya: Hakmana, Matara

Siyāra-piṭiya: Katuwana, Hambantota. Siyāra: Hiyāra?

Ruk-mal-piṭiya: Katuwana, Hampantota

Jūlam-piṭiya: Walasmulla, Hambantota

Ẹt-piṭiya: Walasmulla, Hambantota

Neṭol-piṭiya: Tangalle, Hambantota

Avusada-piṭiya: Vavuniya North, Vavuniya. Avusada: medicinal herb

Divullệ-piṭiya: Kotavehera, Kurunegala

Lī-koḷa-piṭiya: Rasnayakapura, Kurunegala

Talāda-piṭiya: Polpithigama, Kurunegala

Tal-goḍa-piṭiya: Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala

Eba-vala-piṭiya: Wariyapola, Kurunegala

Kaṭṭā-piṭiya: Kobeigane, Kurunegala

Mādulu-piṭiya: Bingiriya, Kurunegala

Nika-piṭiya: Panduwasnuwara West, Kurunegala; Elahera, Polonnaruwa; Aranayake, Kegalle

Koṭaṁba-piṭiya: Panduwasnuwara West, Kurunegala

Gallẹhẹ-piṭiya: Panduwasnuwara East, Kurunegala

Vẹṭẹhẹ-piṭiya: Panduwasnuwara East, Kurunegala

Miriham-piṭiya: Bamunukotuwa, Kurunegala

Dam-piṭiya: Bamunukotuwa, Kurunegala

Divul-gas-piṭiya: Bamunukotuwa, Kurunegala

Buda-nā-piṭiya: Kurunegala, Kurunegala

Attana-piṭiya: Kurunegala, Kurunegala

Talam-piṭiya: Kurunegala, Kurunegala

Yagga-piṭiya: Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala

Mallava-piṭiya: Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala

Kaṭu-piṭiya: Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala

Mī-piṭiya: Rideegama, Kurunegala

Nitul-piṭiya: Rideegama, Kurunegala

Kuru-kẹp-piṭiya: Rideegama, Kurunegala

Tal-gas-piṭiya: Rideegama, Kurunegala; Aranayake, Kegalle

Buḷu-piṭiya: Weerambugedara, Kurunegala; Bibile, Moneragala, Moneragala

Kuliyā-piṭiya: Kuliyapitiya East, Kurunegala

Mā-him-piṭiya: Kuliyapitiya West, Kurunegala

Kẹkilla-piṭiya: Pannala, Kurunegala

Giṇi-gat-piṭiya: Narammala, Kurunegala

Kōṭṭa-piṭiya: Narammala, Kurunegala; Elahera, Polonnaruwa

Kulī-piṭiya: Polgahawela, Kurunegala

Vẹli-goḍa-piṭiya: Polgahawela, Kurunegala

Kal-piṭiya: Kalpitti, Puttalam. Kal: stone, rock

Kuriññam-piṭiya: Kalpitti, Puttalam

Musal-piṭiya: Kalpitti, Puttalam; Thabuttegama, Anuradhapura

Raṇavarā-piṭiya: Karuwalagaswewa, Puttalam

Egoḍa-pitiya: Karuwalagaswewa, Puttalam

Pūna-piṭiya: Munthal, Puttalam. Probably, Puna/ Puṉṉai: Calophyllum inophyllum

Koṭṭa-piṭiya: Arachchikattuwa, Puttalam

Demaṭa-piṭiya: Arachchikattuwa, Puttalam; Madampe, Puttalam; Nattandiya, Puttalam

Iccam-piṭiya: Īccam-piṭṭi; Chilaw, Puttalam

Valaha-piṭiya: Mahawewa, Puttalam

Tuppiṭiyāva: Mahawilachchiya, Anuradhapura

Tuppiṭiya: Uva Paranagama, Badulla

Ūttu-piṭiya: Thirappane, Anuradhapura. Ūṯtup-piṭṭi, Ūṟṟup-piṭṭi

Hińguru-vẹl-piṭiya: Palagala, Anuradhapura

Sańdun-piṭiya: Welikanda, Polonnaruwa

Sevana-piṭiya: Welikanda, Polonnaruwa

Manam-piṭiya: Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa

Ẹtu-mal-piṭiya: Thamankaduwa, Polonnaruwa

Araḷu-piṭiya: Rideemaliyadda, Badulla

Huṇu-kẹṭa-piṭiya: Maagahakivula, Badulla

Dik-piṭiya: Soranatota, Badulla

Mīdum-piṭiya: Passara, Badulla

Badulu-piṭiya: Badulla, Badulla

Mẹda-piṭi-gama: Hali-Ela, Badulla

Ẹṭam-piṭiya: Hali-Ela, Badulla

Dikkā-piṭiya: Welimada, Badulla

Ẹttala-piṭiya: Bandarawela, Badulla

Mẹdi-piṭiya: Bibile, Moneragala

Al-piṭiya: Madulla, Moneragala

Pol-gaha-piṭiya: Medagama, Moneragala

Aṁba-gaha-piṭiya: Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala

Rattana-piṭiya: Moneragala, Moneragala

Okkam-piṭiya: Buttala, Moneragala

Divurum-piṭiya: Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura

Pẹl-piṭiya: Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura

Menēri-piṭiya: Kuruvita, Ratnapura

Holī-piṭiya: Kiriella, Ratnapura

Uḷu-piṭiya: Imbulpe, Ratnapura. Ulu: jungle, "Vanaya, Lẹhẹba" (Sinhala, Sorata); Ulavai: grove (Tamil, DED 997)

Vẹga-piṭiya: Imbulpe, Ratnapura

Kuṭṭā-piṭiya: Pelmadulla, Ratnapura. Note the place names Kuṭṭi-vila, Kuṭṭiya-vatta, Kuṭṭi-gala, Kuṭṭiya-golla and Kuṭṭi-kulama; 1. Kuṭṭi: small, as in Kuṭṭi-cākku (Sinhala, Sorata); Kuṭṭi: smallness (Tamil, DED 1670); 2. Kuṭṭam: vessel, "Bhājana viśeṣayak" (Sorata); Kuṭa: "Kaḷaya". In this place name, probably, a potter's kiln mound; Kuṭam: water pot (Tamil, DED 1651); Kuṭa: water pot (Sanskrit, Dravidian etymology cited, CDIAL 3227)

Lēllō-piṭiya: Pelmadulla, Ratnapura. Lēlu: a fish of the mountain streams (Clough); Piṭiya in such a case may be a bank used for fishing

Tuttiri-piṭiya: Nivithigala, Ratnapura. Tuttiri: common kind of grass called love grass, Crysopogon aciculatus (Sinhala, Clough)

Siduru-piṭiya: Nivithigala, Ratnapura. Sidura, Siduru: hole, cavity (Clough)

Vatu-piṭiya: Nivithigala, Ratnapura

Al-piṭiya: Godakawela, Ratnapura; Warakapola, Kegalle

Kōm-piṭiya: Godakawela, Ratnapura. Kōn, Kōň-vṛkṣa: a tree (Sorata)

Ẹṁbili-piṭiya: Embilipitiya, Ratnapura

Kiri-vallā-piṭiya: Rambukkana, Kegalle. Kirivallā: a tree, Holarrhena mitis (Clough

Kem-piṭiya: Rambukkana, Kegalle

Muva-piṭiya: Rambukkana, Kegalle

Hal-piṭiya: Rambukkana, Kegalle

Pattam-piṭiya: Rambukkana, Kegalle. Pattu, Pattika: "Koṭas himi" (Sorata)

Ginihap-piṭiya: Mawanella, Kegalle

Ussā-piṭiya: Aranayake, Kegalle

Aṭṭā-piṭiya: Aranayake, Kegalle. Aṭṭa: Aṭalla (Sorata)

Gẹvili-piṭiya: Aranayake, Gegalle

Eḷańgi-piṭiya: Aranayake, Kegalle

Mī-piṭiya: Kegalle, Kegalle

Aṁban-piṭiya: Kegalle, Kegalle

Dik-kohu-piṭiya: Kegalle, Kegalle

Mā-bō-piṭiya: Kegalle, Kegalle

Demaṭan-piṭiya: Galigamuwa, Kegalle

Hatnā-piṭiya: Galigamuwa, Kegalle

Otnā-piṭiya: Warakapola, Kegalle

Ẹpala-piṭiya: Dehiovita, Kegalle

Aṁbalam-piṭiya: Dehiovita, Kegalle

Iṁbul-piṭiya: Dehiovita, Kegalle

Bulat-kohu-piṭiya: Bulathkohupitiya, Kegalle

Pẹlẹm-piṭiya: Bulathkohupitiya, Kegalle

* * *

Piṭi: Prefix


Piṭi-pana: Homagama, Colombo; Negombo, Gampaha; Chilaw, Puttalam. Pana: Pala: place, open place

Piṭiyē-gedara: Attanagalla, Gampaha; Pathadumbara, Kandy; Rideegama, Kurunegala

Piṭi-goḍa: Udadumbara, Kandy

Piṭi-gala: Niyagama, Galle

Piṭi-harāva: Baddegama, Galle. Harāva: Arāva

Piṭi-vẹlla: Hikkaduwa, Galle

Piṭi-dūva: Habaraduwa, Galle; Weligama, Matara

Piṭi-pahamuṇa: Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala

Piṭiyē-yāya: Galnewa, Anuradhapura. Yāya: expanse

Piṭiya-kuṁbura: Uva Paranagama, Badulla

Piṭi-gala-kanda: Kalawana, Ratnapura

Piṭiyē-gama: Rambukkana, Kegalle

* * *

Piṭi: middle


Kẹlệ-piṭi-mulla: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Pẹla-piṭi-gama: Mirigama, Gampaha

Hā-piṭi-gama: Mirigama, Gampaha

Bō-piṭi-yatu-duva: Wattala, Gampaha. Bō-piṭiya-atu-duva. This is an adjucent place of Bō-piṭiya

Ẹl-piṭi-vala: Wattala, Gampaha

Tit-tala-piṭi-goḍa: Gampaha, Gampaha. Titta-ala

Vatu-piṭi-vala: Attanagalla, Gampaha

Mā-piṭi-gama: Dompe, Gampaha; Ruwanwella, Kegalle

Dip-piṭi-goḍa: Kelaniya, Gampaha

Pẹl-piṭi-goḍa: Ingiriya, Kalutara

Pẹla-piṭiyā-goḍa: Dodangoda, Kalutara

Varaka-piṭi-kanda: Baddegama, Galle

Vẹli-piṭi-mōdara: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Niviti-piṭi-goḍa: Akmeemana, Galle

Moram-piṭi-goḍa: Habaraduwa, Galle

Tala-piṭiya-gama: Tangalle, Hambantota

Guruḷu-piṭi-gama: Giribawa, Kurunegala

Gala-piṭiyā-gama: Nikaweratiya, Kurunegala

Dam-piṭi-gama: Maho, Kurunegala

Am-piṭi-tẹnna: Haldummulla, Badulla

Daṁ-piṭi-gama: Maho. Kurunegala

Mirihan-piṭi-gama: Maho, Kurunegala

Hiri-piṭiyā-gama: Ipalogama, Anuradhapura

Am-piṭiyā-vatta: Balangoda, Ratnapura

Dip-piṭi-gala: Pelmadulla, Ratnapura

Bō-piṭi-goḍa: Weligepola, Ratnapura

* * *

Puvak:


Puvak-vẹṭiya: Mahara, Gampaha

Puvak-gaha-deṇiya: Pathadumbara, Kandy

Puvak-gaha-divela: Medadumbara, Kandy

Puvak-attāvala: Dambulla, Matale. Attāvala, Attāvela: a garden as in Kehel-attāvala, Dehi-attāvela, Doḍam-attāvela

Gańgala-puvak-piṭiya: Laggala-Pallegama, Matale

Puvak-baḍōviṭa: Puvak-baḍa-ōviṭa: Pitabeddara, Matara

Puvak-gaha-hēna: Pasgoda, Matara

Puvak-gas-Āra: Katuvana, Hambantota

Puvak-daṇḍāva: Beliatta, Hambantota

Puvak-gaha-kaḍavala: Bingiriya, Kurunegala

Puvak-gaha-koṭuva: Narammala, Kurunegala

Puvak-gaha-vela: Imbulpe, Ratnapura

Puvak-moṭē: Rambukkana, Kegalle. Moṭē: 1. Probably related to Muṭṭa: heap, multitude, "Goḍa, Rāsiya" (spoken Sinhala, Sorata); Miṭṭe: mass, a large number (Kannada, DED 5058); 2. Muḷu: multitude, assemblage, "Gaṇaya, Samūhaya, Rāśiya, Kẹṭiya" (Sorata); Muḷukka: to grow thick; Muḷuppu: thronged state (Malayalam, DED 4992)

Puvak-deṇiya: Kegalle, Kegalle




Revised: Wednesday, 25 January 2017, 18:42

First published: Tuesday, 19 October 2010, 20:50