Know the Etymology: 59
Place Name of the Day: Wednesday, 21 June 2017

Nāccik-kuṭā, Cīṉaṉ-kuṭā, Kāñciraṅ-kuṭā, Kāyaṅ-kuṭā, Paṉ-kuṭā-veḷi, Karuvala-kuḍā, Pāla-kuḍāva

நாச்சிக்குடா, சீனன்குடா, காஞ்சிரங்குடா, காயங்குடா, பன்குடாவெளி, கருவலகுடா₃, பால[க்]குடா₃வ
Nāccik-kuṭā, Cīṉaṉ-kuṭā, Kāñciraṅ-kuṭā, Kāyaṅ-kuṭā, Paṉ-kuṭā-veḷi, Karuvala-kuḍā, Pāla-kuḍāva

Nācci+kuṭā
Cīṉaṉ+kuṭā
Kāñciram+kuṭā
Kāyā+am+kuṭā
Paṉ+kuṭā+veḷi
Karuvala+kuḍā
Pālai+kuḍāva

The cove/ bay of the sea goddess

China Bay/ The cove or sea inlet of Chinese connections

The lagoon inlet in the locality of Kāñcirai trees

The lagoon inlet in the locality of Kāyā trees

The open place around the lagoon-inlet in the locality of Paṉ bulrush

The cove in the locality of acacia trees; or the cove in the locality of dry-fish production

The cove/ sea-inlet in the locality of Pālai trees; or the cove/ sea-inlet found with Pālai type of fish

Kuṭā1	= Kuṭāk-kaṭal: bay, gulf (Tamil, MTL); cove, sea-inlet, lagoon-inlet (additional meanings noticed in Eezham Tamil place names); 1. Kuṯā: bend, curve (Tamil, DED 2054a, Malaipaṭukaṭām, 501); Kuṭavu: (verb) to be curved, bent; (noun) bend, curve (Tamil, DED 2054a); Kōṭu: (verb) to bend (Tamil, DED 2054a); (noun) curve as of crescent moon (Tamil, Kalittokai, 142: 24); 2. Kuṭā: cavity, hollow, cavern (Tamil, MTL); Kuṭai: (verb) to hollow out (Tamil, DED 1660); Kuṭṭam: depth, pond (Tamil, DED 1669, Puṟanāṉūṟu, 20: 1-5; Naṟṟiṇai, 280: 13); sea (Tamil, Akanāṉūṟu, 280: 9); Kuṭak-kuḻi: pond (Tamil, MTL Appendix cites Jaffna Dictionary)
Kuṭā2	nook, corner, recess, remote part of a field or a large country (Tamil, MTL); Kuṭākkai: corner of a field (Tamil, MTL cites Jaffna diction); Kōṭi: corner (Tamil, Malayalam, DED 2054b); related to Kōṭu: (verb) to bend (Tamil, DED 2054a)
Kuḍā	also Kuḍāva: = Kuṭā in Tamil (noted in some Sinhalicised Tamil place names; Kuḍā in Sinhala and in Sinhala place names means small as opposed to Maha/ Mahā meaning big). See boxes on Kuṭā; see another column on Kuḍā meaning small in Sinhala place names
Nācci	1. In the context of coastal place names and in the usage of fisher folk/ seafarers, Kaṭal-nācci: sea goddess (Eezham Tamil, Murukāṉantam. S., 1990, p. 237); 2. Kaṇṇaki/ Pattiṉi, often syncretized with sea goddess and considered as guardian of fisher folk/ seafarers, as she was a daughter of a sea merchant (Eezham Tamil usage); 3. Vaṉṉi-nāccimār: heroic women of Vaṉṉi in the colonial times (Eezham Tamil, Shanmugasundaram. T., Vaṉṉi Nāccimār Māṉmiyam); 4. Nāccimār: Seven Maidens, various goddesses, ancestor heroines (Eezham Tamil, as in Nāccimār-kōyil); 5. Nācciyār: lady, queen, goddess (Tamil, MTL); Nāycci, Nāyccimār, Nāycciyār: alternative forms of Nācci, Nāccimār and Nāccimār respectively (Tamil, MTL); 6. Nāccirē: a term used in attending matters of the women of certain castes; "Ẹtẹm kulavala strīnṭa vyavahāra karaṇa vacanayak (Sinhala, Sorata); Etymology 1. Nāy: from Ñāy: mother (Tamil, DED 364, Caṅkam diction, Kuṟuntokai, 40: 1; Ñ/ N change in common in Tamil as in Ñaṇṭu/ Naṇṭu for crab); Etymology 2. Feminine form of Nāyaṉ: (Tamil, MTL, see column 395, for the usage Nāyiṉiyār, also note a form Nāccaṉ equal to Nācci, found used until recent times in the feminine personal names of Jaffna and Vaṉṉi)
Cīṉaṉ	Chinese (Tamil, MTL, Kamparāmāyaṇam, Pālakāṇṭam, 21: 46); Cīṉam: China (Tamil, Villi Pāratam, 28: 19); Cīṉakam: China (Tamil, inscription, 1242 CE, SII, viii, 404); Cīna: China (Sinhala, Clough, Sorata)
Kāñciram	also Kāñcirai: a tree bearing attractive but bitter and poisonous fruit, Strychnine Tree (Tamil, DED 1434, Paḻamoḻi Nāṉūṟu, 371; Piṅkalam, 2741); Kāññiram: Strychnos nux vomica (Malayalam, DED 1434); Kājavāra, Kāsara: Strychnos nux vomica (Kannada, DED 1434); Kāyeru: Nux vomica (Tulu, DED 1434); Kāñci: a Caṅkam poetic theme to talk about the realization of instability and mortality in life (related to bitterness in life, Tamil, MTL, Puṟanāṉūṟu, 365: 10-11; Tolkāppiyam, 20: 18); Kañci: bitter orange (Kannada, Tulu, DED 1108); Kaccal, Kacappu. Kaippu: bitterness (Tamil, DED 1249); Kaca: (verb) to taste bitter (Tamil, DED 1249); Kai, Kaya: (verb) to be bitter (Tamil, DED 1249); Kahaṭa: bitter (Sinhala, Clough); Kaṣāya: astringent (Sanskrit, non-IA origin noted, CDIAL 2974); Kaduru: certain trees related to poisonous or toxic fruit (Sinhala, see column 14); Goḍa-kaduru: Strychnos nux vomica (Sinhala, Clough, note the Ñ/ J/ D change in the tree name). See column 14 on Kaduru in Sinhala
Kāyā	also Kācā, Kācai: a small tree known for its blackish blue or violet blue flowers that appear in abundance as tufts on its branches, Memecylon edule, Memecylon malabaricum (Tamil, DED 1464, Kuṟuntokai, 183: 5; Campantar, 2: 80: 7; Kampar, 2: 8: 25); Kāya: (in combinations): = Kāyā (Tamil, Periyaazhvaar, 1: 5: 6); Kāyāvu: the blue flowered Memecylon tinctorium (Malayalam, DED 1464); Kāsāvu: Memecylon malabaricum (Malayalam, DED 1464); Kasa: also Kora-kasa, Kora-kaha, Vẹli-kaha: Memecylon capitellatum, Memecylon umballatum (Sinhala, Clough, Sorata); Kasa-mal, Kāśa-mal: a blue or dark coloured flower (Sinhala, Sorata); Kāḻ, Kāḻakam: blackness (Tamil, DED 1494, Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai 6, Cūṭāmaṇi, 11: 128); Kāḻakam: blue textile (Tamil, Maturaikkāñci, 598); Kāḷa: black, dark (Pali, CDIAL 3083); Kāla: black, dark blue (Sanskrit, CDIAL 3083, etymology traced to Dravidian); Kār, Kāḍu: blackness (Kannada, DED 1494); Kār: blackness (Tamil, DED 1278c); blue (Tamil, Champanthar, 1: 41: 1); Kācu: blue gem (Tamil, Akanāṉūṟu, 293; 6-7); Kāḻ > Kāy:  Ḻ could become Y, Ḷ, Ṭ, Ḍ, Ṇ, R, Ṣ; but Ḻ directly becoming Y or Ṣ is more southern as in Paḻam > Payam (Tamil Nadu dialect) and Kāḻ (nut in Tamil) > Kāṣi (coconut in Maldivian); Kasa (coconut palm in Sinhala, Sorata)
Paṉ	a kind of mat-making grass, rush, bulrush (Tamil, MTL cites Jaffna diction); Pan: rush, bulrush (Sinhala, Clough); Potu-pan, Potu-kola: species of rush used in making coarse mats, Scleria oruzoides (Sinhala, Clough); Paṉ-pāy: rush mat (Tamil, MTL citing Jaffna diction); 1. Paṉṉu, Piṉṉu: (verb) to weave (Tamil, DED 4207); Paṉṉam: plaiting, braiding with palm leaf, straw etc. (Tamil, MTL citing Jaffna diction); Paṉṉal: cotton (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Puṟanāṉūṟu, 345: 20); Paṉṉāṭai: Paṉ+āṭai: fibrous cloth-like web about the bottom of the leaf stalk of a palmyra or coconut tree (Tamil, DED 4041, Piṅkalam, 9: 102); 2. Paṉṉam: leaf (Tamil, MTL); Paṇṇa: leaf (Pali, CDIAL 7918); Parṇa: plumage, foliage of tree (Sanskrit, CDIAL 7918)
Karuvala1	also Karuvala-gas: = Kaḷuvara, Kaḷu-kihiri: a kind of acacia (Sinhala, Sorata); Karu-vēl: black babul tree, Acacia arabica (Tamil, MTL, DED 1278 + 5537); Karu: black (Tamil, DED 1278a); Kaṟu (verb) to grow black (Tamil, DED 1395, note the Ṟ/ Ḷ change between Kaṟu and Kaḷu); Vēl: babul tree, Acacia arabica, Mimosa arabica (Tamil, DED 5537, Caṅkam diction, Naṟṟiṇai, 256: 9; from its long and sharp thorn)
Karuvala2	in the case of the place name, probably from Karavala: dried fish (Sinhala, Clough); "Viyalu matsyayā" (Sinhala, Sorata); Karuvāṭu: salted and dried fish (Tamil, Malayalam, MTL); Karavāḍu: dry fish (Telugu, cited by MTL); from Kār: (verb) be very saltish (Tamil, DED 1466); Kari: (verb) to be saltish to the taste (Tamil, DED 1466); Kāru: saltness, salt (Telugu, DED 1466); Vāṭu: (verb) to dry up (Tamil, DED 5342); Vāṭṭu: roasted or fried flesh or vegetable (Tamil, DED 5345); or from Karuku: (verb) to be blackened by fire or sun (Tamil, DED 1278); Cravado: dried fish (Portuguese, cited by MTL)
Veḷi	open space, plain (Tamil, DED 5498). See column 13
Pālai	1. A tree, Mimusops hexandra (Tamil, DED 4100); 2. A kind of fish (Tamil, MTL, Paṟāḷai Vināyakar Paḷḷu, 75); both related to milk/ milky colour; note the place name Pālai-mīṉ-maṭu. See column 47

The term Kuṭā coming in coastal Tamil place names means a bay, gulf, cove, sea-inlet, lagoon-inlet etc., and it means a nook, corner or a remote part in the context of inland place names. The etymology of the term corresponds to the Tamil/ Dravidian verbs Kōṭu meaning to bend (DED 2054) and Kuṭai meaning to hollow out (DED 1660).

In Sinhala place names Kuḍā usually means small, but in some place names, especially in Sinhalicised Tamil place names, it means the same as Kuṭā in Tamil.

* * *

In Tamil, Nācci/ Nācciyār means a lady of high rank or a goddess (see box for etymology and related shades of meaning)

In some coastal place names related to bays, coves and lagoons, the term seems to be meaning the sea goddess called Kaṭal-nācci, worshipped by Tamil fisher folk and seafarers. The goddess is propitiated for protection at sea. The cult of Kaṭal-nācci still survives especially in the East of the island.

Goddess Kaṇṇaki/ Pattiṉi is also considered a guardian deity of fishermen and seafarers, as she was the daughter of a sea merchant. Temples of such goddesses are usually found facing the sea. When a considerable section of the coastal folk embraced Catholic Christianity many such temples became churches of Our Lady.

In some other place names, the term Nācci/ Nāccimār means various deities, ancestor heroines or women of high rank after whom the place has been named.

In the form Nāccirē, used in attending matters of the women of certain castes, the word Nācci is also found in Sinhala diction (Sorata).

* * *

Kāñciram/ Kāñcirai, meaning the tree Strychnos nux vomica known for its bitter and poisonous fruit, is related to the noun Kaccal meaning bitterness and verb Kai/ Kaca meaning to be bitter. The Sinhala form Kaduru is closer to Kājavāra in Kannada, meaning the same tree and related to the same etymology (Ñ/ J/ D change)

Kāñciram/ Kāñcirai:

"தேன் ஆர் பலாக் குறைத்து காஞ்சிரை நட்டுவிடல்" (பழமொழி நானூறு, 371)

"Tēṉ ār palāk kuṟaittu kāñcirai naṭṭuviṭal" (Paḻamoḻi Nāṉūṟu, 371)

Like cutting a honey jackfruit tree and planting a Kañcirai tree

* * *

Kāyā in Tamil and Kasa/ Kāśa in Sinhala mean the trees or shrubs belonging to the Memecylon species that bear bunches of blackish blue flowers. The etymology corresponds to Kāḻ/ Kāḻakam meaning blackness or blue (see box).

While the word form Kāyā could be seen in Tamil usage since Caṅkam to modern times, the alternative forms Kācā and Kācai appear in early medieval literature. All the three forms are taken as words of Dravidian etymology (DED 1464).

The Memecylon shrubs or trees largely belong to southern South Asia.

Usage examples for Kāyā/ Kāya/ Kācai/ Kācā:

"புல்லென் காயாப் பூக்கெழு பெருஞ் சினை" (குறுந்தொகை, 183: 5)

"Pulleṉ kāyāp pūkkeḻu peruñ ciṉai" (Kuṟuntokai, 183: 5)

The big branch, abounding with tuft-like Kāyā flowers 


"காய மலர் நிறவா" (பெரியாழ்வார், 1: 5: 6)

"Kāya malar niṟavā" (Periyāḻvār, 1: 5: 6)

You, of the colour of Kāya flower [God Tirumāl]


காசை மலர் போல் மிடற்றர் (சம்பந்தர் தேவாரம், 2: 80: 7)

Kācai malar pōl miṭaṟṟar (Campantar Tēvāram, 2: 80: 7)

The one who on his throat has a (blue/ black) mark like a Kācai flower [God Siva]


"காவியின் மலர், காசா, கடல், மழை, அனையானை" (கம்பர், 2: 8: 25)

"Kāviyiṉ malar, kācā, kaṭal, maḻai, aṉaiyāṉai" (Kampar, 2: 8: 25)

(Rāmā in his colour) like blue lotus, Kācā flower, sea and raincloud

* * *

Paṉ in Eezham Tamil and Pan in Sinhala mean a kind of bulrush that is used in making mats.

The etymology may either be related to the verbs Paṉṉu/ Piṉṉu meaning to weave or plait in Tamil/ Dravidian or to Parṇa/ Paṇṇa meaning leaf or foliage in Indo-Aryan.

For the usage of Paṉ in the meaning of weaving or plaiting, note a phrase like Paṉṉāṭai (Paṉṉu+āṭai) in Tamil meaning the fibrous net-like part found at the base of the leaf-stalk of palmyra palm, coconut palm etc. Also note Paṉṉal in old Tamil meaning cotton.

Paṉṉal meaning cotton:

"பன்னல் வேலி இப் பணை நல் ஊரே" (புறநானூறு, 345: 20)

"Paṉṉal vēli ip paṇai nal ūrē" (Puṟanāṉūṟu, 345: 20)

Only cotton shrubs fence this paddy-field village [means weak defence]

* * *

Nāccik-kuṭā is noticed as a place name in Poonakari division of Kilinochchi district; Puthukkudiyiruppu division of Mullaiththeevu district and in Trincomalee Town and Gravets division of Trincomalee district. All of them are coves and fishing ports.

Cīṉaṉ-kuṭā, called China Bay in English is in Trincomalee Town and Gravets division of Trincomalee district.

Kāñciraṅ-kuṭā comes as place name in Koralaippattu division of Batticaloa district; in Manmunai West division of Batticaloa district and in Thirukkoyil division of Amparai district. All of them have lagoon inlets.

Kāyaṅ-kuṭā is in Eravurpattu division of Batticaloa district. This is a lagoon inlet.

Paṉ-kuṯā-veḷi is in Eravurpattu division of Batticaloa district. The place has a lagoon-inlet and marsh found with bulrush (Batticaloa OIS)

Karuvala-kuṭā is a place in Ilavaṅ-kuḷam division of Puttalam district (Kuthiraimalai OIS). Acacia is commonly found in this coastal place facing a bay. The place and the island (Kāraitīvu) lying across the bay are also known for dry-fish production.

Pāla-kuḍāva, as spelt in official list of villages, is in Talaivillu in Kalpitti division of Puttalam district. In old maps (Kalpitti OIS) the place name is marked in English as Palaikuda (Pālaik-kuṭā).

* * *

Some related place names:

Kuṭā:

Paḷḷik-kuṭā: Poonakari, Kilinochchi. Paḷḷi: see column 58

Kācik-kuṭā: Poonakari, Kilinochchi. Probably from Kacā, Kācai: = Kāyā (see box on Kāyā)

Naṭuk-kuṭā: Mannar Town, Mannar. Naṭu: middle, see column 492

Kaṟukkāmaccik-kuṭā: Musali, Mannar. Karukkāmacci: probably a kind of fish

Koṇṭaccik-kuṯā: Musali, Mannar. Koṇṭaicci, Koṇṭaiccaṉ, Koṇṭaiccāṉ: = Koṇṭalātti, Koṇṭaik-kiḷāṟu, Koṇṭai-kulātti: a bird identified by its crest (Koṇṭai: Tamil, DED 2081), which is erected at will: Hoopoe, Upupaepops; Madras Bulbul, Pycnonotus haemorhous (Tamil, MTL, citing Jaffna dictionary). The place name Koṇṭacci is probably a shortened form of Koṇṭaccik-kuṭā 

Marutōṇṭik-kuṭā: Musali, Mannar. Marutōṇṭi: = Marutōṉṟi: 1. A shrub or small tree, Henna, Lawsonia alba; 2. Nail due, Barleria prionitis (Tamil, MTL); from Maru+tōṉṟi: stain causing (DED 4767+3566)

Putarik-kuṭā: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Putar: bush. Low jungle, grass (Tamil, 4509)

Vāccik-kuṭā: Alaiyadivempu, Amparai. Vācci: probably related to Vāccuka: to cut off in a slanting way as a wedge (Malayalam, DED 5340); or probably a kind of jujube tree (Karukku-vācci: Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai) 

Avakkar-kuṭā: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa

Aracaiyaṭik-kuṭā: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Aracu+ai+aṭi. See column 56

Kal-kuṭā: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Kal: stone, rock (Tamil, DED 1298)

Kallūṭṭuk-kuṭā: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Kal+ūṭu+kuṭā; stone or rock in the middle; or stone/ rock coming between; Ūṭu: the middle, that which comes between (Tamil, DED 737, Akanāṉuṟu, 366: 2-3)

Pācik-kuṭā: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Pāci: see column 16

Vavuṇak-kuṭā: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Kamiṉ-kuṭā: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Puṉṉaik-kuṭā: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa. Puṉṉai: a tree, Calophyllum inophyllum, see column 54

Curaṭṭaiyaṉ-kuṭā: Eravur Town, Batticaloa. Cuṟaṭṭai: that which is dried up (Tamil, MTL). The place is noted as Karaṭṭaiyaṉ-kuṭā n official records

Nāvaṟ-kuṭā: Manmunai North, Batticaloa

Cēttuk-kuṭā: Manmunai North, Batticaloa; Kāraitīvu, Kalpitti, Puttalam (Kuthiraimalai OIS). Cēttu: < Cēṟṟu: muddy, see column 152 Cēttuk-kuṭā:

Kaṉṉaṉ-kuṭā: Manmunai West, Batticaloa. Kaṉṉan: from Kaṉṉai: side, one side, see column 468

Tāḻaṅ-kuṭā: manmunaippattu, Batticaloa. Tāḻai: screw pine, see column 204

Mutalaik-kuṭā: Manmunai Southwest, Batticaloa. Mutalai: crocodile (DED 4952); see column 7

Kanṭak-kuṭā-maṭu: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa. Probably Kaṇṭal-kuṭā-maṭu

Māvēl-kuṭā: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa. Mā+vēl: acacia? Note Karuvala (Karuvēl) Kuṭā

Paṭṭik-kuṭā: Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee. Paṭṭi: cattle pen (Tamil, DED 3868)

Poṉ-malaik-kuṭā: Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee. Poṉ: gold, metal, iron (Tamil, DED 4570)

Kāṭaik-kuṭā: Moothoor, Trincomalee. Kāṭai: rain quail, Turnix taigoor (Tamil, DED 1441, Tivākaram, 3: 162)

Paḷḷik-kuṭāc-cēṉai: Moothoor, Trincomalee. See Paḷḷik-kuṭā and column 21

Aiyaṉ-kuṭā: Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Trincomalee. Aiyaṉ: the deity Aiyaṉār; see column 72

Ālaṅ-kuṭā: Kalpitti, Puttalam. Āl+am (empty morpheme for conjunction)+kuṭā; Āl: banyan tree, see column 56

Ullaik-kuṭā: Arukamkuṭā, Amparai. Ullai: a kind of fish (Tamil)

Tampalakāmam-kuṭā: Thampalakamam, Trincomalee

Kōvil-kuṭā: Kāraitīvu, Kalpitti, Puttalam (Kuthiraimalai OIS); another near Ōṭakkāran-tīvu, Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS). Kōvil, Kōyil: temple (Tamil, DED 2177); church in the context of some of the place names

Karuva-kuṭā: Kāraitīvu, Kalpitti, Puttalam (Kuthiraimalai OIS). Probably shortened from Karuvala-kuṭā/ Karuvēl-kuṭā. The name is noted in the sandbank island, Kāraitīvu. The corresponding coastal place across the bay is called Karuvala-kuṭa.

Puḷiyaṅ-kuṭā: Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS). Puḷi+am (empty morpheme for conjunction)+kuṭā; Puḷi: tamarind, see columns 90, 179

Vella-taṭal-kuṭā: Near Nāccik-kaḻi, Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS). Vella-taṭal: probably Vellai-tiṭal; Vellai corresponds to Vẹlla in Sinhala; Tiṭal: bank (Tamil, DED 3221)

Kaṇḍak-kuṭā: Talaivillu, Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS). Kaṇṭalk-kuṭā; the place has a mangrove nearby

Pālaik-kuṭā: Talaivillu, Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS). See Pāla-kuḍā; Pālai: a tree, also a fish; see column 47

Taṇṇik-kuṭā: Talaivillu, Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS). Taṇṇi: < Taṇṇīr: water, drinking water (Tamil, DED 3045); from the availability of potable water at the cove shore.

Tirukkaik-kuṭā: Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). Tirukkai: ray-fish, Trygon seption; electrical ray, Nareine timilei (Tamil, DED 3249); probably from the whip-tail that can sting; Tiruku+kai; Tiruku: (verb) to twist, turn, wring, braid as hair; (noun) screw (Tamil, DED 3246); Kai: hand, arm, trunk, handle (Tamil, DED 2023)

Vēppaṅ-kuṭā: Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). Vēmpu: neem tree, see column 56

Neṭuṅ-kuṭā: Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). Neṭu: see columns 32, 105

Kavāṭṭik-kuṭā: Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). Kavāṭṭi: a kind of oyster, see column 2.

Cūṭaik-kuṭā: Foul Point, Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). Cūṭai: also Cūṭaip-poṭi: sardine fish of bluish green colour, Clupea fimbriata; 4-inches long sardine fish having golden spot, Clupea lile; a silvery fish of 20-inches long, Pellona lechenaultii (Tamil, MTL); the abundantly found fish is usually consumed in fried form; Cūṭu: fried/ roasted meet or seafood (Tamil, Puṟanāṉūṟu 34: 11; Paṭṭiṉappālai, 63, DED 2654); Cuṭu: to burn, roast, toast, bake, fry (Tamil, DED 2654)

Koṭṭiyārak-kuṭā: Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). Noted as Koddiyar Bay in Trincomalee OIS and in colonial records; the place name Koṭṭiyāram in Trincomalee comes in a Chola inscription dated to 1014 CE (SII, ii, 92)

Aṟukam-kuṭā: Pottuvil, Amparai. Aṟuku: a kind of grass, Cunondon dactylon (Tamil, DED 1397b)

Nāraik-kuṭā: a cove north of Paṉkuṭāveḷi, Eravur, Batticaloa (Batticaloa OIS). Nārai: crane (Tamil, DED 2911), see column 55

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Kuṭā in prefix:

Kuṭā-muṉaik-kal: Koralaippattu West, Batticaloa

Kuṭāt-tuṟai: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Cove port

Kuṭā-vaṭṭai: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Kuṭā-veṭṭai: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Kuṭattaṉai: Vadamaradchi East, Jaffna. Probably Kuṭāt-taṉai; this is a place bordering a lagoon

Kuṭārappu: Vadamaradchi East, Jaffna. The place borders a lagoon

* * *

Kuḍāva:

Kanda-kuliya-kuṭāva: Kalpitti, Puttalam. The nearby place is called Kanda-kuliya. From Kaṇṭal-kuḻi and Kaṇṭal-kuḻi-kuṭā

Maṇḍala-kuḍāva: Kalpitti, Puttalam. Probably Maṇṭal: silt (related to Maṇṭi, DED 4676); or Maṇṭal-valai: a kind of fishing net that reaches the bottom of the waters

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Nācci: (as sea goddess)

Nācci-kanda: Trincomalee (Trincomalee OIS). This is a small hillock facing the bay near Nāccik-kuṭā. Kanda: see column 6

Nāccik-kaḻi: Kaṟpiṭṭi, Puttalam (Kalpitti OIS); the bigger and smaller parts of the lagoon are called Periya-nāccik-kaḻi and Ciṉṉa-nāccik-kaḻi. Kaḻi: lagoon, backwater, sea-arm, shallow seawaters (Tamil, DED 1359)

Nācciyammā-keṅkai: this is a lake in Kaṟpiṭṭi Peninsula (Kalpitti OIS)

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Nāccimār:

Nāccimār-kōyilaṭi: the place name is found in many places, one such is in Vaṇṇārpaṇṇai, Jaffna

Eḻu-vaṅka-nāccimār-kōyil: Aṉalai-tīvu, Kayts division, Jaffna (HAM temple records). The worship of Seven Maidens in this case is associated with a myth that they had come in seven ships. See column 4

Pautta-nāccimār-kōyil: Navāli North, Jaffna (V. Almanac); Pautta: Buddhist

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Nāycci:

Muttu-nāycci-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Maṭu: pond/ tank; Muttu-nāycci seems to be the personal name of a lady of high rank

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Nāccā/ Nācci: (Sinhala)

Nāccā-dūva: Nachchaduwa, Anuradhapura. Dūva: probably from a water-surrounded part of land in the tank

Ańgunācciya: Horowpothana, Anuradhapura

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Kāñcirai:

Kāñcira-mōṭṭai: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Mōṭṭai: natural pond

Kāñcuraṅ-kuṭā: Batticaloa OIS

Kāñcūran-tulāval: Tōṇikkal, Vavuniya (Vavuniya OIS). See column 74

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Kāyā:

Kāyāṅ-kēṇi: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa

Kāyā-mōṭṭai: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu

Kāyā-nakar: Manthai West, Mannar. An earlier suffix was probably changed to Nakar in recent times

Kāyaṭik-kuḷam: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Kāyāvaṭik-kuḷam; Kāyā+aṭi+kuḷam

* * *

Kasa/ Kora-kaha/ Vẹli-kaha:

Kasa-gaha-vatta: Katana, Gampaha

Kasā-vatta: Akurana, Kandy

Kasa-maḍuva: Mihinthale, Anuradhapura. Maḍuva in this case corresponds to Maṭu meaning pond/ tank in Tamil.

Kora-kaha-vẹva: Thalawa, Anuradhapura. Kora-kaha: = Kasa (Sinhala, Sorata)

Vẹli-kaha-golla: Uhana, Ampara. Vẹli-kaha: = Kasa (Sinhala, Sorata)

* * *

Paṉ: (Tamil)

Paṉ-cēṉai: Manmunaippattu, Batticaloa

Paṉ-kuḷam: Morawewa, Trincomalee

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Pan: (Sinhala)

Pan-gollā-maḍa: Akurana, Kandy

Pan-vila: Panvila, Kandy; Baddegama, Galle; Hikkaduwa, Galle; Bope-Poddala, Galle

Pan-vila-tẹnna: Doluwa, Kandy

Pannam-piṭiya: Dambulla, Matale

Pan-vatta: Ukuwela, Matale

Pannam-goḍa: Hikkaduwa, Galle. Pannam: = Pan-kam: plaiting work done with Pan bulrush; "Pan valin karaṇa karmāntaya" (Sinhala, Sorata); Goḍa: village in this context

Paṅ-gam-vila-yāya: Katuwana, Hambantota

Pannal-gama: Damana, Ampara

Pan-vẹva: Maho, Kurunegala

Pan-liyẹdda: Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala

Pan-vala-kuṁbura: Pannala, Kurunegala

Paṅ-golla: Alawwa, Kurunegala

Pan-vẹlla: Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura

Paṅ-kẹṭiya: Haputale, Badulla

Pan-deṇiya: Imbulpe, Ratnapura

* * *

Karuvala:

Karuvala-vatta: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Karuvala-bẹdda: Gonapeenuwala, Galle; Mahakumbukkadawala, Puttalam

Karuvala-gas-vẹva: Karuwalagaswewa, Puttalam; Galgamuwa, Kurunegala; Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura; Thirappane, Anuradhapura; Galnewa, Anuradhapura

Karuvala-gaha-vatta: Maho, Kurunegala

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Revised: Wednesday, 21 June 2017, 18:30

First published: Saturday, 25 August 2007, 01:00