Know the Etymology: 85
Place Name of the Day: Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Kōyilāk-kaṇṭi, Kaṇakkaṉār-kaṇṭi, Poli-kaṇṭi, Kaṇṭiyāṉ-kuḷam, Aḍik-kaṇḍiya, Kuḍā-kaṇḍiya, Malaiyaṭik-kaṇṭam

கோயிலாக்கண்டி, கணக்கனார்கண்டி, பொலிகண்டி, கண்டியான்குளம், அடி₃க்கண்டி₃ய, குடா₃[க்]கண்டி₃ய, மலையடிக்கண்டம்
Kōyilāk-kaṇṭi, Kaṇakkaṉār-kaṇṭi, Poli-kaṇṭi, Kaṇṭiyāṉ-kuḷam, Aḍik-kaṇḍiya, Kuḍā-kaṇḍiya, Malaiyaṭik-kaṇṭam

Kōyil+ā+kaṇṭi
Kaṇakkaṉār+kaṇṭi
Poli+kaṇṭi
Kaṇṭi+aṉ+kuḷam
Aḍi+kaṇḍiya
Kakula+goḍa+kaṇḍiya
Malai+aṭi+kaṇṭam

The temple part

The settlement part or quarters of the accountant/ teacher

The paddy (field) part or the paddy field

The tank of the paddy field

The bottom part or the lowest part

The small part, embankment or paddy field

The paddy field at the hill bottom or the paddy field of the hill neighbourhood

Kaṇṭi1	a part, sector, division, quarters, settlement (Eezham Tamil, as seen in toponymic usage); an enclosed part made of poles and nets in a lagoon etc. to catch fish, "Mīṉ piṭikka aṭaikkum pirivu" (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai); a piece (Tamil, Tirunelvēli, dialect, MTL); Etymology 1: from the root, Kaṭi: (verb) to bite, bite off (Tamil, DED 1124); (verb) to cut away, to cut into pieces (Tamil, DED 1125); Kadi: (verb) to cut, cut off; (noun) portion cut off (Kannada, DED 1125, cognates in 6 Dravidian languages); Kaṭikai: piece cut off (Tamil, DED 1125, Kuṟuntokai, 267: 2-4); Kaṭital: cutting (Tamil, Piṅkalam, 7: 387); Kaṭi as nasalized in Kaṇṭi: (verb) to cut, cut off (Tamil, Tirumūlar 576; Nammāḻvār, 3: 10); (noun) a piece cut off (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Patiṟṟuppattu, 43: 27); Kaṇṭa: (verb) cut into pieces (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Puṟanāṉūṟu, 398, 23-24); Kaṇṭittal: cutting, separating, dividing (Tamil, Tivākaram, 9: 112, 113); cutting, synonym of Kaṭi (Tamil, Piṅkalam, 7: 387); Kaṇḍeriyuni: (verb) to make a cut (Tulu, DED 1176); Gaṇtu: (verb) to cut (Telugu, DED 1176); Gaṇḍrikaḷu: pieces, fragments (Telugu, DED 1176); Gaṇḍra: piece (Kuwi, DED 1176); Etymology 2: from the root, Khaṇḍ: (verb) to break, divide (Sanskrit, Monier Wlliams); Khaṇḍayati: to break into pieces, cut, divide (Sanskrit, Monier Williams); Khaṇḍa: broken, fragment (Sanskrit, CDIAL 3792); broken (usually of teeth), piece (Pali, CDIAL 3792); Etymology 3: from the root Kaṇ: eye, nipple (Tamil, DED 1159, cognates in 22 Dravidian languages); joint in bamboo or cane, and thus meaning a division (Tamil, DED 1160, cognates in 12 Dravidian languages); place, site, locative case suffix (Tamil, DED 1161, Kuṟuntokai, 267: 1; Naṟṟiṇai, 117: 9-10); Kaṇu: joint in Bamboo etc. (Tamil, DED 1160); Kaṇi: a place (Kannada, DED 1161); see column 115 on Kāṇi; Etymology 4: related to Kāṇḍa: single joint of a plant (Sanskrit, Atharva Vedic, CDIAL 3023, traced to probable non-IA origin, and probable Tamil/ Dravidian Kaṇ); Gaṇḍa: joint of plant (Sanskrit, CDIAL 3998, traced to Dravidian)
Kaṇṭi 2	means a piece of paddy field in some place names, as in Kaṇṭiyaṉ-kuḷam (Eezham Tamil); from Kaṇṭi meaning a part or piece of land (see, Kaṇṭi 1); related to Kaṇṭam: a piece of paddy field, "Tuṇṭu-vayal" (Tamil, inscription, 923 CE, SII, iii, 123; SII, xiv, 392; see box on Kaṇṭam in Eezham Tamil); Kaṇṭu: paddy field, "Vayal" (Tamil, MTL, Appendix); Kaṇṭukam: a measure of paddy field land (Tamil, inscription, 1008 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, ix, Cp, 128); Kaṇṭakam: a measure of paddy field land (Tamil, inscription, 1034 CE, EC, x, Bg. 7). See box on Kaṇṭam. See box on Kaṇṭi 1 for etymology
Kaṇṭi 3	The city called Kandy; capital of the Kingdom of Kandy (Tamil, see column 132); from meaning enclosed inner part, for the citadel of the city; see boxes Kaṇṭi 1 and Kaṇḍi 1
Kaṇṭi 4	a pass, "Kaṭavai" (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai); gap in a hedge of fence, mountain pass (Malayalam, DED 1176); Kaṇḍi: opening (Kannada, Tulu, DED 1176); narrow passage (Kodagu, DED 1176); Gaṇḍi: gap, lane (Telugu, DED 1176); etymology may be related to Kaṇṭi meaning to cut, or Kaṇ meaning eye and opening; toponymic usage in Eezham Tamil or Sinhala is uncertain; may be meaning a lane or pass in some place names like Paṟaiya-kaṇṭi: see column on Kaṭavai
Kaṇḍi1	a part, portion, "Koṭasa" (spoken Sinhala, Sorata); Kaṇḍana: dividing, separating (Sinhala, Clough); Kaḍa: piece, part, fragment (Sinhala, Clough). See box on Kaṇṭi 1 for etymology
Kaṇḍi2	means a paddy field part in some Sinhala place names; related to Kaṇḍi meaning a part or portion (Sinhala, see Kaṇḍi 1); also probably a variation of Kaṇaṭi: a small paddy field; "Kuḍā liyẹdda" (Sinhala, Sorata). See box on Kaṇṭi 2 and Kaṇṭi 1 for etymology
Kaṇḍi3	probably related to Kańḍa: bank, embankment, "Ivura" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kańḍ: opening or dam/ embankment, "Dvāraya hō Amuṇa" (Sorata citing Sinhala inscription, EZ, I, 232); uncertain of its usage in place names; probably used in some place names in Moneragala and Ampara districts; related to cutting?; see Kaṇṭi 1 and 4;
Kaṇṭam	paddy field, a part of land having a paddy field, a part of a paddy field tract (Eezham Tamil place names, mostly Batticaloa usage); a piece of paddy field, "Tuṇṭu-vayal" (Tamil, inscription, 923 CE, SII, iii, 123; SII, xiv, 392); Kaṇṭu: paddy field, "Vayal" (Tamil, MTL, Appendix); Kaṇṭukam: a measure of paddy field land (Tamil, inscription, 1008 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, ix, Cp, 128); Kaṇṭakam: a measure of paddy field land (Tamil, inscription, 1034 CE, EC, x, Bg. 7); from Kaṇṭam: a piece (Tamil, Paripāṭal, 19: 33-34; Cūḻāmaṇi, 1359); division of land (Tamil, Tirimūlar, 1425). See box on Kaṇṭi 1 for etymology; also see box on Kaṇṭi 2 and column
Poli	yield of paddy obtained in threshing; an auspicious term the use of which has to be strictly observed in referring to paddy when threshing takes place in a field (Eezham Tamil agricultural usage); Poli, Poṅkaḻi: heap of paddy grains freshly obtained from threshing and not winnowed yet (Tamil, Piṅkalam, 9: 336); Pular: (verb) to mature as grain (Tamil, DED 4550, Akanāṉūṟu, 82: 13); (noun) matured grain cob (Tamil, Akanāṉūṟu, 118: 12); Poli: (verb) to flourish, prosper, abound, increase (Tamil, DED 4550, Naṟṟiṇai, 198: 11-12); (noun) interest paid in kind (Tamil, DED 4550; inscription, 731 CE, SII, viii, 331); Polī: monthly or annual interest coming from a capital; "Nayak dun viṭa ē dun mudal ādiyaṭa vaḍā mās hō avurudu patā gevana gaṇāna, vṛddhiya" (Sinhala, Sorata, citing Sinhala inscriptions, EZ, iii, 190; iv, 39B);
Malai	hill (Tamil, DED 4742). See column 19
Aṭi	foot, base, bottom (Tamil, DED 72). See column 56
Aḍiya	foot, bottom of anything (Sinhala, Clough). See column 178
Kuḍā	small, little, diminutive, short (Sinhala, Clough). See another coumn

Kaṇṭi and Kaṇṭam in Tamil, and Kaṇḍi/ Kaṇḍiya in Sinhala, basically mean a piece or part. From that, they mean a settlement part or a paddy field part in place names.

The etymology may be related to the verbs Kaṭi and Kaṇṭi in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 1124), and Khaṇḍ in Sanskrit (CDIAL 3792), meaning to cut, divide etc., or may be related to the terms Kaṇ/ Kaṇu in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 1159, 1160, 1161), and Kāṇḍa in Sanskrit (CDIAL 3023, 3998), meaning a joint in bamboo etc., and thus coming to mean a part.

Note Kaṭi in Tamil and Khaṇḍa in Pali ultimately related to teeth (to bite) and Kaṇ meaning a joint corresponding to eye.

Also note the nasalization or absence of nasalization in the terms, Kaṭi, Kaṇṭi, Khaṇda and Kaḍa in Tamil, Sanskrit, Pali and Sinhala.

See relevant boxes above and usage examples below:

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Etymology of Kaṇṭi/ Kaṇṭam meaning a piece, being related to verbs meaning to cut:

Kaṭi and Kaṇṭi meaning to cut:

"…துணித்தல்…வெட்டல். கண்டித்தல் பகுத்திடல்…தறித்தலும் ஏற்கும் என்ப" (திவாகரம், 9: 112, 113)

"…Tuṇittal…Veṭṭal. Kaṇṭittal pakuttiṭal…taṟittalum ēṟkum eṉpa" (Tivākaram, 9: 112, 113)

Tuṇittal..etc, mean cutting (Veṭṭal). Kaṇṭittal, Pakuttal…and Taṟittal also mean the same (i.e., Veṭṭal: cutting)


"கடிதல்…கண்டித்தல்…அறுத்தல் ஆகும்" (பிங்கலம், 7: 387)

"Kaṭital…kaṇṭittal…aṟuttal ākum" (Piṅkalam, 7: 387)

Kaṭital…Kaṇṭittal…mean Aṟuttal (cutting)


Kaṇti, Kaṇṭā and Kaṭi-kai meaning a cut-piece:

"கண்டி நுண் கோல்" (பதிற்றுப்பத்து, 43: 27)

"Kaṇṭi nuṇ kōl" (Patiṟṟuppattu, 43: 27)

Cut-piece of fine rod


"கண்ட மான் வறைக் கருனை" (புறநானூறு, 398: 23-24)

"Kaṇṭa māṉ vaṟaik karuṉai" (Puṟanāṉūṟu, 398: 23-24)

Cut-piece deer-meat fry


"கரும்பின் கால் எறி கடிகைக் கண்" (குறுந்தொகை, 267: 2-4)

"Karumpiṉ kāl eṟi kaṭikaik kaṇ" (Kuṟuntokai, 267: 2-4)

A piece of the lower part of a sugarcane (the sweetest part) cut between the joints

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Etymology of Kaṇṭi/ Kaṇṭam meaning a piece, being related to words meaning a joint:

Kaṇ meaning eye:

"கண் பாடு ஒல்லாவே" (குறுந்தொகை, 5: 4-5)

"Kaṇ pāṭu ollāvē" (Kuṟuntokai, 5: 4-5)

My eyes are not closing (I am not sleeping)


Kaṇ meaning place:

"இருங் கண் ஞாலம்" (குறுந்தொகை, 267: 1)

"Iruṅ kaṇ ñālam" (Kuṟuntokai, 267: 1)

The big-spaced world


Kaṇ meaning a joint as in sugar cane etc:

"கரும்பின் கண் இடை அன்ன" (குறுந்தொகை, 180: 3)

"Karumpiṉ kaṇ iṭai aṉṉa" (Kuṟuntokai, 180: 3)

Like the part between the joints in a sugar cane


Kaṇṭam meaning the part between joints as in bamboo, sugarcane etc:

"கண்டக் கரும்பு கவழம் மடுப்பார்" (பரிபாடல், 19: 33-34)

"Kaṇṭak karumpu kavaḻam maṭuppār" (Paripāṭal, 19: 33-34)

Some will be seen feeding (elephants) with handful of sugarcane pieces cut at the joints or cut between the joints


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Kaṇṭam, Kaṇṭakam and Kaṇṭukam meaning a measure of paddy-field land:

"வட கண்டத்து எங்கள் இரண்டு மாவும் தென் கண்டத்து மேற்கடைய ஒரு மாவும்" (Tamil inscription, 923 CE, SII, iii, 123)

"Vaṭa kaṇṭattu eṅkaḷ iraṇṭu māvum teṉ kaṇṭattu mēṟkaṭaiya oru māvum" (Tamil inscription, 923 CE, SII, iii, 123)

Two Mā (a measure) of land of ours in the northern paddy field block (Kaṇṭam) and one Mā in the southern block of paddy field (Kaṇṭam), towards its west


"இருமடிச் சோழராஜர் குடங்கை விட்ட நெல் விளை பூமி நாற் கண்டகம்" (Tamil inscription, 1034 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, X, Bangalore 7)

"Irumaṭic cōḻarājar kuṭaṅkai viṭṭa nel viḷai pūmi nāṟ kaṇṭakam" (Tamil inscription, 1034 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, X, Bangalore 7)

The four measures or blocks of paddy growing fields (Kaṇṭakam) donated by Irumaṭic Cōḻarājar [Irumaṭi in Kannada means the second person having the same name]


"நிசதம் இரு நாழி அரிசி திருவமிர்துக்குக் குடுத்த நிலம் முக் கண்டுகம்" (Tamil inscription, 1008 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, IX, Cp. 128)

"Nicatam iru nāḻi arici tiruvamirtukkuk kuṭutta nilam muk kaṇṭukam" (Tamil inscription, 1008 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, IX, Cp. 128)

The three measures of paddy field lands (Kaṇṭukam) given for the purpose of the daily supply of two Nāḻi measures of raw rice for the rice dish offer to the deity




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Usage of Kaṇṭi as a place name component in early Tamil:

"கண்டி ஊர் இருந்த கொட்டும் பறை உடைக் கூத்தன்" (7th century CE, Tēvāram, Appar, 4: 93: 8)

"Kaṇṭi ūr irunta koṭṭum paṟai uṭaik kūttaṉ" (7th century CE, Tēvāram, Appar, 4: 93: 8)

The dancer having a sounding drum (God Siva), residing at Kaṇṭi-ūr [Kaṇṭiyūr: literally meaning the Kaṇṭi village or town; a place in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu]

* * *

Poli meaning paddy:

"பொலி பொங்கழி தூற்றா நெற் சூடு ஆகும்" (பிங்கலம், 9: 336)

"Poli poṅkaḻi tūṟṟā neṟ cūṭu ākum" (Piṅkalam, 9: 336)

Poli and Poṅkaḻi mean un-winnowed heap of paddy grains


Poli as verb meaning to prosper, increase etc:

"பொலிக நும் பெயரே" (நற்றிணை, 198: 11-12)

"Polika num peyarē" (Naṟṟiṇai, 198: 11-12)

Let your name go high


Pular as verb meaning grains to mature:

"புலர் குரல் ஏனல்" (அகநானூறு, 82: 13)

"Pular kural ēṉal" (Akanāṉūṟu, 82: 13)

The millet crop of matured cobs


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Kōyilāk-kaṇṭi is a place in Thenmaradchi division of Jaffna district.

Kaṇakkaṉār-kaṇṭi is a locality in Karainagar Island of Jaffna district.

Poli-kaṇṭi is now a densely populated coastal place in Vadamaradchi North division of Jaffna district. Paddy fields are found on its southern fringes.

Kaṇṭiyaṉ-kuḷam is a pond name in Puṅkuṭutīvu Island of Kayts division of Jaffna district (Delft OIS). The pond is found amidst a paddy field patch.

Aḍik-kaṇḍiya is found in Katana division of Gampaha district. The place is at a low depth, adjacent to a marsh.

Kuḍā-kaṇḍiya: is in Uhana division of Ampara, district (Thirukkovil OIS). The place is a paddy field having an abandoned embankment. Note the place name Mahā-kaṇṭiya in the same division.

Malaiyaṭik-kaṇṭam is a paddy field and a place name in Iṟakkāmam division of Amparai district (Thirukkovil OIS).

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Some related place names:

Kaṇṭi:

Campantar-kaṇṭi: Karainagar, Jaffna. Campantar: a personal name

Paṟaiya-kaṇṭi: Karainagar, Jaffna. Paṟaiyar: the community of drummers

Nāvaṟ-kaṇṭi: Karainagar, Jaffna. Nāval: a tree

Vali-kaṇṭi: Kuṭattaṉai, Vadamaradchi East, Jaffna; Valveṭṭittuṟai, Vadamaradchi North, Jaffna (Balasundaram, p. 171). Vali: sand; Kuṭattaṉai Valikaṇṭi has sand dunes on one side and a paddy field patch on the other side.

Aiyaṉ-kaṇṭi: Varaṇi North, Thenmaradchi, Jaffna. Aiyaṉ: the deity Aiyaṉar; or a personal name

Cēttuk-kaṇṭi Ammaṉ Kuṭiyiruppu: near Muracumōṭṭai, Kandavalai, Kilinochchi. Cēttu, Cēṟṟu: adjective of Cēṟu: mud

Muṟi-kaṇṭi: often called Muru-kaṇṭi: Thunukkai, Mullaithheevu. Muṟi/ Muṟippu: dam, barrage; the place has a tank. Muṟi-kaṇṭi is the spelling noted in Iranaimadu OIS. This is also called Paḻaiya Muṟikaṇti to differentiate it from the A9 highway-side place of the same name. See Teru-muṟikaṇṭi

Paḻaiya-muṟi-kaṇṭi: Thunukkai, Mullaiththeevu. Paḻaiya: old; see Muṟikaṇṭi.

Teru-muṟikaṇṭi: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu. Teru: road; the A9 highway-side Muṟi-kaṇṭi that became popular because of a Piḷḷaiyār shrine at this place that is propitiated by travellers. See Muṟi-kaṇṭi; Teru Muṟikaṇṭi may have come from an extended identity of Muṟikaṇṭi/ Paḻaiya-muṟikaṇṭi that is located a few km away, or it may have come from another dam/ barrage close-by.

Iṟak-kaṇti: Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee. Iṟa: from Iṟai: tax

Caṅkamak-kaṇṭi: also Caṅkamāṅ-kaṇṭi: Pottuvil, Amparai (The spelling Caṅkamak-kaṇṭi is attested by Kōṇēcar Kalveṭṭu Akaval; Caṅkamaṅ-kaṇṭip-patikam; Kaṇapatippiḷḷaip Pulavar, Kanthaiya, p. 325)

Polikaṇṭik-kuḷam: Gomarankadawala, Trincomalee (Noted as Pulikanḍikulama in Sinhala official records). See Poli-kaṇṭi

Kurunaik-kaṇṭi-aṇaikkaṭṭu: near Mallikaiththeevu, (Thirukkovil OIS). Kuruṉai: elephant

Paṉṉaik-kaṇṭi: Parantaṉ, Karaichchi, Kilinochchi (V. Almanac, 2013-14, p. 134). Paṉṉai: 1. The work of plaiting mats, baskets etc. using palmyra palm leaves; 2. A shrub

Piṉaṭṭuk-kaṇṭi: near Viṭattaltīvu, Manthai West, Mannar (Mantai OIS). Piṉāṭṭu, Paṉāṭṭu: dried and preserved palmyra fruit pulp (Tamil, Tolkāppiyam, 284, usage is mostly found in Eezham Tamil); Paṉai+aṭṭu = Paṉāṭṭu (Tamil, DED 4037+DED 76); "Paṉaiyiṉ muṉ aṭṭu varu kālai nilaiyiṉṟu ākum ai eṉ uyirē. Ākāram varutal ā vayiṉāṉa" (Tolkāppiyam, Eḻuttu, 284)

Kaṇṭiyaṉ-āṟu: a place near Kompaṉ-kuttiṉa-ōṭai, Manmunai West, Batticaloa, (Batticaloa OIS). The place gets the name from a stream Kaṇṭiyaṉ-koṭṭi-āṟu that flows through paddy fields

Kaṇṭiyak-kaṭṭu: meaning, the boundary post of the Kandiyan Kingdom, when travelling from Batticaloa (Kanthaiya)

Kaṇṭiyat-tēvaṉ-kuḷam: Tuṇukkāy, Mullaiththeevu (Tunukkai OIS). Kaṇṭiyat-tēvaṉ: a chief or commander whose name probably comes from the traditions of the soldier guilds of the past, such as Kaṇṭar meaning soldier, Kaṇṭār meaning commander and Kaṇṭikai meaning a ring worn on the arm on which an oath to fulfill a task is taken (Tamil inscriptions, 870 CE, SII, xix, 163; 805 CE, EI, xi, 15; 1069 CE, SII, ii, 83)

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Kaṇḍiya:

Yōdha-kaṇḍiya: Yōda-kaṇṭiya: Thissamaharama, Hambantota. The place has an extensive paddy field tract; the main canal of a tank passes through this place. Yōdha: = Yōda: 1. Extensive, "Viśāla" (Sinhala, Sorata); 2. Yōda-ẹḷa: big canal that takes water from one tank to another (Sinhala, Sorata)

Dehi-atta-kaṇḍiya: Dehiattakandiya, Ampara. Dehi-atta: the lime-shrub-wing (cultivation field); Kaṇṭiya here seems to be meaning a part

Mahā-kaṇḍiya: Uhana, Ampara. There is an abandoned tank at this place. Extensive paddy field tract is seen nearby. Mahā: big; note Kuḍā-kaṇḍiya

Muru-kaṇḍiya: Bingiriya, Kurunegala. See Muṟi-kaṇṭi

Ratmal-kaṇṭiya: Dehiattakandiya, Ampara. Ratmal:

Mutu-kaṇḍiya: Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala. Mutu: a tree or shrub;"Gas jātiyak" (Sinhala, Sorata). Note place names like Muthu-keḻiyāva, Muthu-gala etc.

Kaṇḍiya-piṭa-vẹva: Thanamalvila, Moneragala. Piṭa: side, "Pẹtta" in this context. The tank has paddy fields on both sides; on the dam side and on the backside

Kakula-goḍa-kaṇḍiya: north of Kivulagama, Damana, Ampara (Thirukkovil OIS). The place is a paddy field. The stream that flows here is called Kakula-goḍa-kandura. Kakula: probably from Kẹkula: a tree; note place names like Kẹkulā-vala,

* * *

Kaṇṭam:

Peru-veḷik-kaṇṭam: Varippattāñcēṉai, Irakkamam, Amparai (Thirukkovil, OIS). This is a paddy field

Kāyā-maṭuk-kaṇṭam: near Kaṉṉaṉkuṭā, Manmunai West, Batticaloa (Batticaloa OIS). Paddy field

Kayiri-maṭuk-kaṇṭam: Manmunai West, Batticaloa (Batticaloa OIS). Paddy field

Tavaṇaik-kaṇṭam: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Paddy field

Cēṉaik-kaṇṭam: Eravurppattu, Batticaloa. Paddy field

Karaṭip-pūval Putuk-kaṇṭam: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Paddy field

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Notes on Poli:

The term Poli is not commonly used in Eezham Tamil to mean paddy. But, it is an exclusive term used by Tamil farmers while in the threshing field. The belief is that the use of this word and exclamations such as, "Poli, Poli, Poli" while threshing and winnowing would increase the yield.

The following are some of the terms used in the paddy fields of Mātakal in Jaffna, as recorded by Mr. V. Srikathirgamanathan of that place. The terms are very much the same in Vanni and in Batticaloa. The meanings and common equivalents are given within brackets:

Poli (paddy grains, Nel), Kullam (winnowing equipment, Cuḷaku), Poliyaṉ (the main ox kept at the centre while threshing, Māṭu / Erutu/ Kāḷai), Vaḷaiyaṉ (the auxiliary oxen kept at the sides while threshing, Māṭu / Erutu/ Kāḷai), Kaḷam (the spot of threshing, Kaḷam), Katirp-pāy (the large mat on which threshing takes place, Kaḷap-pay), Naviṇṭu-pōtal (the damage to the mat by the hooves of cattle, Piyntu-pōtal), Uppaṭṭi (bunches of paddy stalks, Kaṭṭu), Cūṭu (the heap of bundles of paddy stalks, Cūṭu), Pōr (the dung of oxen laid while threshing, Cāṇam), Kantuvāṉ (the binding of the threshing oxen, Kayiṟu), Kūḷam (the hay that comes out, Vaikkal), Poli-kayiṟu (a rope made of hay to bind the bunch of paddy stalks and to thresh), Puri-viṭutal (making a hay rope), Patar (chaff, empty grains, Cāvi).

When the threshing is finished, an elder in the field will draw trident signs on the Poli (heap of grains), using a winnowing equipment. The signs are then erased using a bunch of hay. Thereafter, using the first winnowing equipment, paddy will be filled into another winnowing equipment held by a person standing in front. This portion goes to the temple. The holy-ash worn by Saivites (Vīpūti) is made from the oxen dung and chaff collected at the threshing field. (According to scriptures it should be made from cow's dung).

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Revised: Wednesday, 23 August 2017, 18:30

First published: Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 08:52