Know the Etymology: 86
Place Name of the Day: Monday, 24 July 2017

Kokku-maṭu, Kok-maḍuva, Kevuḷiyā-maṭu, Keruṭā-maṭu, Koṇṭai-maṭu, Kaccilai-maṭu, Koṭuvā-maṭu, Virāl-maṭu, Keḷutti-maṭu, Kaḷi-maṭu, Pāvaṭṭā-maḍuva

கொக்குமடு, கொக்மடு₃வ, கெவுளியாமடு, கொண்டைமடு, கச்சிலைமடு, கொடுவாமடு, விரால்மடு, கெளுத்திமடு, களிமடு, பாவட்டாமடு₃வ
Kokku-maṭu, Kok-maḍuva, Kevuḷiyā-maṭu, Keruṭā-maṭu, Koṇṭai-maṭu, Kaccilai-maṭu, Koṭuvā-maṭu, Virāl-maṭu, Keḷutti-maṭu, Kaḷi-maṭu, Pāvaṭṭā-maḍuva

Kokku+maṭu
Kok+maḍuva
Kevuḷi+ā (genitive case)+maṭu
Keruṭaṉ+maṭu > Keruṭamaṭu > Keruṭāmaṭu
Koṇṭai+maṭu
Kaccilai+maṭu
Koṭuvā+maṭu
Virāl+maṭu
Keḷutti+maṭu
Kaḷi+maṭu
Pāvaṭṭā+maḍu

The pond seen with cranes

The pond seen with cranes

The fishermen's pond

The pond seen with vultures

The pond by the side of Koṉṟai/ Koṇṭai trees

The pond in the locality of Kaccilai shrubs or the pond found with Kaccili fish

The pond found with Koṭuvā fish

The pond found with Virāl fish

The pond found with Keḷutti fish

The clayey pond or the pond to get clay

The pond in the locality of Pāvaṭṭai shrubs

Maṭu	pond, pool, deep place in a river or channel, a fold on the ground (Tamil, DED 4658, Campantar Tēvāram, 1: 68: 4; Tivākaram, 5: 61; 5: 229; inscription, c. 1000, SII, v, 873); a deep place, pool (Malayalam, DED 4658); Maḍu, Maḍa, Maḍuvu, Maḍavu, Maḍuhu: deep water, deep place in a river, pool (Kannada, DED 4658); Maḍūgu: pond, tank, basin, lake, pool, or collection of any liquid in a pit or hollow (Telugu, DED 4658); Maṭā: a large earthen vessel (Tamil, DED 4651, Patiṟṟuppattu, 24: 20); Maḍake: pot (Kannada, DED 4651); Maṭaṅku: (verb) be bend (Tamil, DED 4645); Maṭi: (verb) to be bent, to turn in, curl, curve; (noun) belly, waist, lap, pouch (Tamil, DED 4645, Akanāṉūṟu, 50: 11); Maḍi: (verb) to bend; (noun) bending, pouch like fold (Kannada, DED 4645); cognates in 10 Dravidian languages
Maḍuva	means the same as Maṭu in Tamil, in some Sinhala and Sinhalicised place names in the North, North Central, North Western and Eastern Provinces; the meaning is not given in Sinhala dictionary entries (See box on Maṭu in Tamil and see related place names). See column 140 for the usage of Maḍu in different meanings in the Sinhala place names of the other provinces.
Kokku	common crane, Grus cinerea; stork; paddy bird (Tamil, DED 2125, Kuṟuntokai, 117: 1-2); cognates in 13 Dravidian languages including Brahui (DED 2125); Kokā: (singular); Kokku: (plural) crane or heron (Sinhala, Clough); Etymology either related to the curving neck of a crane or related to its hook-like beak; Kokki: hook, hooked knife attached to a long pole (Tamil, DED 2032); Kuraṇṭu: (verb) to be crooked or bent (Tamil, DED 2032); Kuraṅka, Kuraṅku: (verb) to curve (Tamil, Akanāṉūṟu, 235: 13; 4: 8); Koṇku: (verb) to be bent, get crooked, curved (Kannada, DED 2032); Kok: to become very bent (Kota, DED 2032); Kokk-: (verb) to be bent (Kodagu, DED 2032); cognates in 17 Dravidian languages (DED 2032); Kokku: long beak, bill (Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, DED 2034); Kokka: (singular); Koku: (plural) hook (Sinhala); Kokku meaning mango
Kok	crane or heron, "Enam Pakṣiyā" (Sinhala, Sorata traces to Kokku in Dravidian); Kokā: (singular), Kokku: (plural) crane or heron (Sinhala, Clough); "Kok nam Paḳṣiyā" (Sinhala, Sorata). See box on Kokku in Tamil
Kevuḷi	fisherman or fisherwoman; literally meaning, one who kills fish, fish-hunter; "Masun marannā" (Sinhala, Sorata); the identity mostly applied to freshwater fishing; Kevulā: (singular), Kevulan: (plural) fishermen (Sinhala, Clough); Kevuli: (singular), Kevuliyō: (plural) fisherwomen (Sinhala, Clough); Kevul: (adjective) relating to water (Sinhala, Clough); Keoḷu: fishing (Dhivehi/ Maldivian, CDIAL 3469); 1. Kaivarta, Kēvarta, Kēvāṭa: fisherman (Sanskrit, CDIAL 3469); Kēvaṭṭa: fisherman (Pali, Prakrit, CDIAL 3469); DED compares the terms with Kayal: carp (Tamil, DED 1252); Kayyan: a river fish (Malayalam, DED 1252, cognates in 7 Dravidian languages); 2. Kē-vēṭaṉ: fisherman (Tamil, MTL, 8th century CE, Tiruvācakam, 2: 17; Vēṭaṉ: hunter, Tamil, DED 5527); Kēvi: a category of fishermen, sailors serving under the captain of a ship (Tamil, inscription, 1088 CE, AVNM; 4, p. 118-119); Kēvu: charge for transporting goods by sea (Tamil, Telugu, Tulu, MTL); Khevā: rowing (Marathi, CDIAL 3738); same as Kēvu (Urdu, cited by MTL, cognates seen in many IA languages, CDIAL 3738); 3. Kabbiliga, Kabbaya: boatman, fisherman (Kannada, DED 1227); Kabbila: huntsman, fowler (Kannada, DED 1227)
Keruṭā	of Keruṭaṉ, a vulture often seen near water bodies; from Karuṭaṉ: white-headed kite, sacred to Viṣṇu (Tamil, MTL, Pēyāḻvār, 57); Garuḍa: a mythical bird (Sanskrit, CDIAL 4041); a big sacred bird, enemy of serpents (Sinhala, Sorata); Kaḻu, Kaḻuku: griffin vulture, Gyps indicus; pharaoh's chicken, Neophron ginginanus; eagle, Aquilinae falconidae (Tamil, DED 1362, Akanāṉūṟu, 31: 11); Karu, Kaḷu: vulture (Tulu, DED 1362)
Koṇtai	also Koṇṭal: seems to be meaning the Cassia fistula tree (Eezham Tamil, colloquial, as in Koṇṭalaṭi Vayiravar in Nallur, Jaffna, and in other place names); from Koṉṟai: Indian laburnum, Cassia fistula (Tamil, DED 2175, Kuṟuntokai, 21: 4); a tree that flowers at the onset of southwest monsoon (references in Caṅkam literature); in Sinhala the tree is called Ẹsaḷa/ Ẹhẹḷa, associated with the month Ẹsaḷa, June/ July (Āṣāḍha in Sanskrit).
Kaccilai	seems to be a plant of bitter leaves or a fish; the memorial stone (Kaṟcilai) found in the place, Kaccilaimaṭu, coming in this column is irrelevant as the place name predates the memorial stone; probably related to Kacci: a creeper called Cīntil, Tinospora cordifolia; a shrubbery Acalypha fructicosa (Tamil, MTL, Kathiraiverpillai); Kaccal, Kaccali: a fish (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai)
Koṭuvā	commonly means a large marine fish, but seems to be meaning a small freshwater species in this context; from Koṭu-vāy: literally meaning, the one the mouth of which is curved, bent, or bill-hooked (Tamil, MTL, DED 2054a+5352)
Virāl	from Varāl: murrel, a marine fish (Tamil, DED 5262); but also means a freshwater fish, equated to Keṇṭai: barbus (Tamil, MTL cites Jaffna Dictionary); the form Virāl is noticed in Malayalam (DED 5262). See column 41
Kaḷutti	certain kinds of freshwater fishes; Macrones vittatus; Macrones seenghala; a fish-bird, Macrones gulis; Scorpion fish, Saccobranchus fossilis (Tamil, MTL); = Keḷiṟu: (Tamil, MTL, Tiruvācakam, 2: 17): = Keṭiṟu: (Tamil, MTL, Caṅkam diction, Puṟanāṉūṟu, 18: 10; Aiṅkuṟunūṟu, 47)
Kaḷi	also Kaḷi-maṇ: clay, potter's clay (Tamil, DED 1381); mud, dried mud of a pond-bed, silt (Tamil, Naṟṟiṇai, 126: 2; Puṟanāṉūṟu, 266: 2; Neṭunalvāṭai, 15-16); Kalal: mud, "Maḍa" (Sinhala, Sorata)
Pāvaṭṭai	1. A shrub, Pavetta indica (Tamil, DED 4103); cognates in Malayalam, Toda, Kannada, Tulu and Telugu (DED 4103); 2. A small tree, common bottle flower, Webera corymbosa; 3. A medicinal shrub called Āṭātōṭai, Malabar nut, Justicia adhatoda (Tamil, MTL); Pāvaṭṭā: 1. A shrub with white flowers, Pavetta indica (Sinhala, Clough); a variety of which, Pavetta montana is peculiar to the island (Clough); 2. A shrub, Adhatoda vasica or Justicia adhenatoda (Sinhala Clough); "Āḍatōḍāgasa" (Sinhala, Sorata); Āṭātoṭai: this term is also listed as Dravidian (Tamil, DED 346, cognates in Malayalam, Toda, Kannada, Tulu and Telugu; traced to Āṭu meaning goat in Dravidian; MTL notes that the term has come because the shrub is eaten only by goats, and DED citing Tulu cognate notes that even goats avoid it)

The term Maṭu, coming in Tamil place names and listed as Dravidian, means a pond, usually a deep natural pond.

The etymology is related to the verbs Maṭi and Maṭaṅku, meaning to fold, curve, etc. Maṭu therefore acquired the meaning pond, from originally meaning a concave or deep ground.

Cognates of Maṭu in the meaning of pond could be seen in Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu, but the usage of the word in Tamil, in the meaning of pond, is seen in literature and inscriptions only after c. 7th century CE.

Maḍu/ Maḍuva in the Sinhala and Sinhalicised place names of the North, East, North Central and Northwest provinces means the same as Maṭu in Tamil. In the rest of the provinces Maḍu/ Maḍuva in Sinhala place names has different meanings. See column 140.

* * *

Maṭu meaning a deep pond, tank or depression on a ground:

"மடுக் கிடந்த மா முதலை" (திருமழிசையாழ்வார், நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதி, 12)

"Maṭuk kiṭanta mā mutalai" (Tirumaḻicaiyāḻvār, Nāṉmukaṉ Tiruvantāti, 12)

The big crocodile that was lying in the deep pond


"தென்பாற் கெல்லை மடுவின் வடக்கும்" (Tamil inscription, c. 1000 CE, SII, v. 873)

"Teṉpāṟ kellai maṭuviṉ vaṭakkum" (Tamil inscription, c. 1000 CE, SII, v. 873)

The southern boundary is the north of the pond


"…தடாகம் மடு குளம்…வாவி" (திவாகரம், 5: 61)

"…Taṭākam maṭu kuḷam…vāvi" (Tivākaram, 5: 61)

Taṯākam, Maṭu and Kuḷam means Vāvi (reservoir)


"மடு இழிந்து ஏறப்படு நெறியே" (திவாகரம், 5: 229)

"Maṭu iḻintu ēṟappaṭu neṟiyē" (Tivākaram, 5: 229)

Maṭu means a passage, going down and then climbing up (means a folding ground)

* * *

Kokku, meaning crane and listed as Dravidian, means the same in Tamil and Sinhala. Kok and Kokā are forms noticed in Sinhala. The etymology is related to the hook-like neck or beak of the bird.

Kokku as crane:

"கொக்கின் பார்வல் அஞ்சிய பருவரல் ஈர் ஞெண்டு" (குறுந்தொகை, 117: 1-2)

"Kokkiṉ pārval añciya paruvaral īr ñeṇṭu" (Kuṟuntokai, 117: 1-2)

The miserable wet crab that became scared by a crane looking at it…

* * *

Kevuḷi is a word listed in Sinhala dictionaries to mean fishermen (literally meaning fish hunter). The word is not in common use in current Sinhala, but it is seen in a few place names in the Eastern Province. The exact word form is not found in Tamil, but cognates and usage parallels in Tamil literature and inscriptions date from c. 8th century CE. See box on Kevuḷi for etymological possibilities.


Usages of Kēvēṭar and Kēvi in Tamil, related to Kevuḷi:

"கேவேடராகிக் கெளிறது படுத்தும்" (திருவாசகம், கீர்த்தித் திருவகவல், 17)

"Kēvēṭarākik keḷiṟatu paṭuttum" (Tiruvācakam, Kīrttit tiruvakaval, 17)

(God Siva) becoming a fish hunter and catching the Keḷiṟu fish [a story that is said in detail in Tiruviḷaiyāṭaṟ Purāṇam later]




"மரக்கல நாயனும் கேவிகளும்" (Tamil inscription, 1088 CE, AVNM, 4, pp. 118-119)

"Marakkala nāyaṉum kēvikaḷum" (Tamil inscription, 1088 CE, AVNM, 4, pp. 118-119)

The sailors (rowers) and the captain of the ship

* * *

Keruṭa is adjective of Keruṭaṉ, which is a variation of Karuṭaṉ meaning a large vulture. The word, found used in Tamil since 7th century CE, is a cognate of Garuḍa in Sanskrit. Dravidian has parallels like, Kaḻu, Kaḻuku, Kaḷu and Karu, meaning vulture (see box)

Karuṭaṉ meaning vulture as well as a mythological bird associated with God Viṣṇu:

"கருடன் மேற் கொண்ட கரியான்" (பேயாழ்வார், 57)

"Karuṭaṉ mēṟ koṇṭa kariyāṉ" (Pēyāḻvār, 57)

The dark-coloured (Viṣṇu) seated on Karuṭaṉ

* * *

Koṉṟai (Cassia Fistula) is a common flowering tree found especially in the dry zone of the island. Koṇṭai and Koṇṭal are colloquial forms seen in Eezham Tamil usage. It is considered a sacred tree and note the place name Tiruk-koṇṭaiyaṭi-maṭu under related place names.

Koṉṟai (Koṇṭai/ Koṇṭal) as a tree flowering at the onset of rainy season:

"புதுப் பூங் கொன்றைக் கானம் கார் எனக் கூறினும்" (குறுந்தொகை, 21: 4)

"Putup pūṅ koṉṟaik kāṉam kār eṉak kūṟiṉum" (kuṟuntokai, 21: 4)

Even if the forest of newly blossoming Koṉṟai trees announces that it is rainy season…


* * *

Kaḷi meaning clay, mud or silt found on a pond-bed:

"கயம் களி முளியும் கோடை ஆயினும்" (புறநானூறு, 266: 2)

"Kayam kaḷi muḷiyum kōṭai āyiṉum" (Puṟanāṉūṟu, 266: 2)

Even if it is summer when ponds become mud-dried beds


* * *

Varāl (Virāl) and Keṭiṟu (Keḷiṟu/ Kaḷutti) as freshwater fishes:

"வாளை நுண் ஆரல் பரு வரால் குரூஉக் கெடிற்ற குண்டு அகழி" (புறநானூறு, 18: 10)

"Vāḷai nuṇ āral paru varāl kurūuk keṭiṟṟa kuṇṭu akaḻi" (Puṟanāṉūṟu, 18: 10)

The deep moat having Vāḷai (eel), fine Āral (a tiny eel), stout Varāl and coloured Keṭiṟu

* * *

Kokku-maṭu is noted as pond name cum place name in Musali division of Mannar district; near Nīlappaṇikkaṉ-kuḷam in Kuchchaveli division of Trincomalee district (Padawiya OIS); near Pū-noccik-kuḷam, Arippu in Nanaddan division of Mannar district (Murunkan OIS) and near Maṇiyāṟaṉ-kuḷam in Vavuniya South division of Vavuniya district (Vavuniya OIS).

Kok-maḍuva comes as a place name in Giribawa division of Kurunegala district and in Kahatagasdigiliya division of Anuradhapura district.

Kevuḷiyā-maṭu is a place near Kaccaṟkoṭi village in Manmunai Southwest division of Batticaloa district.

Keruṭā-maṭu is in Puthukkudiyiruppu division of Mullaiththeevu district.

Koṇṭai-maṭu is found as a place name in Puthukkudiyiruppu division of Mulaiththeevu district and in Karaithuraippattu division of Mullaiththeevu district.

Kaccilai-maṭu is in Oddusuddan division of Mullaiththeevu district.

Koṭuvā-maṭu comes in Eravurpattu division of Batticaloa district.

Virāl-maṭu is found near Gomaraṅkaḍavala, in Gomarankadawala division of Trincomalee district (Kokkilai OIS).

Keḷutti-maṭu is near Puṅkaṉā-veḷi in Manmunai North division of Batticaloa district (Batticaloa OIS)

Kaḷi-maṭu is a place in Poratheevuppattu division of Batticaloa district.

Pāvaṭṭā-maḍuva is in Kuruwalagaswewa division of Puttalam district.

* * *

Some related place names:

Maṭu:

Maṭu: written in English as Madhu where a historical Catholic church is located; shortened from Taṭcaṇā Maruta Maṭu; Madhu, Mannar

Taṭcaṇā-maruta-maṭu: the old name of Maṭu/ Madhu; Madhu, Mannar. Marutu: the tree Terminalia arjuna; Taṭcaṇā: southern

Kal-maṭu: Kandavalai, Kilinochchi; Madu, Mannar; Vavuniya, Vavuniya; Eragama, Amparai; Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Maṭuk-karai: Kandavalai, Kilinochchi

Rāca-maṭu: Nanaddan, Mannar

Maruta-maṭu: Musali, Mannar; Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu; Vavuniya South, Medawachchiya OIS

Maṭuvaṭi: Maṭu+aṭi: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththevu

Nīla-maṭu: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu. Nīlam: indigo plant

Vicuva-maṭu: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu

Kōṇā-maṭu: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu; noted as Koonamadu in official records

Olu-maṭu: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu; Vavuniya North, Vavuniya. Olu: water lily

Periya-itti-maṭu: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu. Itti: a tree

Ciṉṉa-itti-maṭu: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu

Karappuk-kutti-maṭu: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Karappu: a device to trap fish

Neṭu-maṭu: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Neṭu: big, long

Vaṇṇā-maṭu: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu

Vaṉṉiyaṉ-maṭu: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu

Vattā-maṭu: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu. Vaṟṟā-maṭu; Vaṟṟā: not getting dried up

Mā-maṭu: Vavuniya North, Vavuniya

Nayiṉā-maṭu: Vavuniya North, Vavuniya. Nayiṉār: lord, god

Pampai-maṭu: Vavuniya, Vavuniya. Pampai: a reed

Māṇikka-maṭu: Eragama, Amparai

Vaṭṭa-maṭu: Alayadivempu, Amparai; Kinniya, Trincomalee; Mullaiththeevu district side of Teṉṉaimaravaṭi, Kokkilai OIS

Kuṇṭu-maṭu: Poththuvil, Amparai. Kuṇṭu: (noun) waterhole, deep pit; (adjective) deep

Kēṇi-maṭu: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa

Oṭṭu-maṭu: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa

Pirappaiyaṭi-maṭu: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa

Kuḷattu-maṭu: Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa. This Maṭu is situated close to a large reservoir called Vākanēri

Kōrakkalli-maṭu: Koralaippattu; Batticaloa

Kumbili-piṭṭiya-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Muttu-nācci-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Paṟaṅkiyā-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Vaṭṭi-pōṭṭa-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Vettilai-pōṭṭa-maṭu: Vettilai-pōṭṭāṉ-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa

Viṟpaṉai-maṭu: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa; Eravurpattu, Batticaloa. Wilpana is noticed in Sinhala place names

Iṅkiriya-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Kokkut-taṅkiya-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa. Taṅkiya: stayed; from Taṅku: to stay, sojourn, abide, remain (Tamil, DED 3014)

Kurukkaṉā-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa. Kurukkaṉ: probably, 1. Kurukku: a commonly found prickly plant of yellow flowers, prickly poppy, Argemone mixicana (Tamil, MTL); 2. Kurukkatti: a weed of tiny fragrant flowers, common delight of the woods, Hiptage madablota (Tamil, MTL, Naṟṟiṇai, 97: 6)

Maṅkala-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa

Navuṇṭaṉiyā-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa, Note the place names Navuṇṭil and Navuṇṭān-tōṭṭam in the North

Neṭiya-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa; Manmunai North, Batticaloa

Pālai-mīṉ-maṭu: Manmunai North, Batticaloa. Pālai-mīṉ: a freshwater fish

Tirāy-maṭu: Manmunai North, Batticaloa

Kuḷuviṉa-maṭu: Manmunai South, Batticaloa

Kaṇṭal-kuṭā-maṭu: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa

Raṇa-maṭu: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa. Raṇa: bamboo, gold

Tāmarai-maṭu: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa

Tikkōṭai-maṭu: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa

Uppuk-kaicci-maṭu: Moothoor, Trincomalee

* * *

Maṭu: One Inch Sheets

Kumpala-maṭu: near Catturukkoṇṭāṉ, Batticaloa OIS. Kumpala: potter, a shrub

Kuruntaṭi-maṭu: Kuruntu+aṭi+maṭu: Catturukkoṇṭāṉ, Batticaloa OIS

Tāvaṉaka-maṭuc-cēṉai: Uṉṉiccai, Batticaloa OIS. Tāvaṉam: Tāvam, Takaṉam: burning for cultivation

Oli-maṭu: Uṉṉiccai, Batticaloa OIS

Puḷiyaṭi-maṭu: Puḷi+aṭi+maṭu: Uṉṉiccai, Batticaloa OIS

Ittiyaṭi-maṭu: Itti+aṭi+maṭu: Karaveṭṭi, Batticaloa OIS

Muṭakku-maṭu: Karaveṭṭi, Batticaloa OIS

Pālaiyaṭi-maṭu: Pālai+aṭi+maṭu: Poṉṉākāṇit-tōṭṭam, Batticaloa; Pālaiyaṭit-tōṇā, Kalkudah OIS

Kālaiyaṭi-maṭu: Kālai+aṭi+maṭu: Paṉaiyaṟuppāṉ, Batticaloa OIS. Kālai: cattle pen

Vattākkai-maṭu: Kompaṉkuttiṉa-ōṭai: Batticaloa OIS

Kāyāṉaṭi-maṭu: Kāyāṉ+aṭi+maṭu: Viṉilaiyaṭippūval, Batticaloa OIS. Kāyā: a flowering tree

Kayiri-maṭuk-kaṇṭam: Ūṟācēri, Batticaloa OIS. Kayiri: 1. Kayiram: sweet oleander, "Alari"; 2. Kayar+i: tasting astringent

Muṇṭai-maṭu: Veḷāmaiccēṉai, Batticaloa OIS

Vaṉṉiyaṉār-maṭu: Kiṇṇiyā, Trincomalee OIS

Kōyil-tiru-maṭu: Kaṅkuvēli, Trincomalee OIS. Found with ruins

Komattala-maṭu: Paṇṭittīvu, Kathiraveli OIS

Vellaiyaṭi-maṭu: Callittīvu, Kathiraveli OIS. Vellai: probably seashore in this context

Kaliṉiya-maṭu: Kathiraveli OIS ?

Tiri-kōṇa-maṭu: Kathiraveli OIS

Āṉai-maṭuk-kuḷam: Kalliccai, Vakaneri OIS

Kaṭavata-maṭu: at the border of Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa districts (Vākaneri OIS)

Tiruk-koṇṭaiyaṭi-maṭu: Māṅkēṇi, Vakaneri OIS

Kaṭṭāṭiyāṭi-maṭu: Vakaneri OIS. ?

Vettilai-pōṭṭāṉ-maṭu: south of Muruttaṉai, Vakaneri OIS. Variation of Vettilai-pōṭṭa-maṭu

Kuḷattu-maṭu: Vākaṉēri, Vakaneri OIS. This is a small pond near the Vākaṉēri reservoir

Hitta-maṭu: Ciṉṉa Kāyāṅkēṇi, Kalkudah OIS

Tuṟaivantiya-maṭu: Kalmunai OIS?

Tikkōṭai-maṭu: Tikkōṭai, Kalmunai OIS

Tāḻaiyaṭi-maṭu: Puḷukunāva, Kalmunai OIS

Sīraṅka-maṭu: Puḷukunāva, Kalmunai OIS

Kēṇi-maṭuk-kuḷam: Bakkiẹlla, Kalmunai OIS

Kal-nāyaṉ-maṭu: Tirukkōvil, Amparai

Āṉai-kaṭṭi-maṭu: Kuchchaveli division, Trincomalee, Padawiya OIS

Ottiyaṭi-maṭu: Kuchchaveli division, Trincomalee, Padawiya OIS

Periya-kalmaṭuk-kuḷam: Kuchchaveli division, Trincomalee, Padawiya OIS

Kompi-maṭu: by the side of Paṉkuḷam Āṟu, Padawiya OIS

Paṉiccai-maṭu: Kokilai OIS

Catana-maṭu: Cantaṉa-maṭu?: Kokkilai OIS

Maruta-maṭuk-kuḷam: Cuvanta-muṟippu, Kokkilai OIS

Era-maṭu: Gomaraṅkaḍavala, Kokkilai OIS

Pāl-maṭu: Maṇṇākaṇṭal, Iranaimadu OIS

Iraṇai-maṭu: Kilinochchi, Iranaimadu OIS

Ihamala-maṭu: Perumparappu, Thunukkai OIS

Puṭāri-maṭu: Thunukkai OIS

Kāḷi-kōyil-maṭu: Panaṅkāmam, Mantai OIS

Tōṭṭap-paṭṭi-maṭu: Kurunthankulam, Mantai OIS

Navatalon-maṭu: Iluppaikkaṭavai, Mantai OIS

Sulainā-maruta-maṭu: Madhu, Mannar, Murunkan OIS

Kūttāṭi-maruta-maṭuk-kuḷam: Madhu, Murunkan OIS

Karampai-maṭu: Mutaliyār-kuḷam, Vavuniya OIS

Maṭuk-kuḷam: Vēlaṅkuḷam, south of Kōyiṟ-puḷiyaṅkuḷam, Vavuniya OIS

Muṉaya-maṭu: north of Tāṇṭikkuḷam, Vavuniya OIS

Periya-maṭu: north of Āyilaṭi, Padawiya MS; Mantai OIS

Ariya-maṭu: south of Kīricuṭṭāṉ, Padawiya MS

Kuṟicuṭṭa-maṭu: Puḷiyaṅkuḷam, Padawiya MS

Matiya-maṭu: Kaccaṟkoṭi, Padawiya MS ?

Cemmā-maṭu-kuḷam: Padawiya MS

* * *

Maṭuvam/ Maṭuval:

Maṭuvam: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu

Olli-maṭuval: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa. Olli: Alli, Olu: water lily

* * *

Maḍuva:

Kalukkunnam-maḍuva: Vavuniya South, Vavuniya

Maḍuk-kanda: Vavuniya South, Vavuniya. Kanda: hill, mound

Mā-maḍuva: Vavuniya South, Vavuniya. Mā: big

Mal-maḍuva: Vayiravar-ciṉṉak-kuḷam, (Vavuniya OIS). Mal: flower

Pirappam-maḍuva: Vavuniya South, Vavuniya. (As found in Sinhala official records. English version comes as Pirappan-maḍuva). Pirampu: rattan cane

Pū-maṭuva: Vavuniya South, Vavuniya. Pū: flower

Gal-maḍuva: Damana, Ampara; Thalawa, Anuradhapura. See Kal-maṭu

Āṇa-maḍuva: Anamaduwa, Puttalam. Āṉai: elephant

Rāl-maḍuva: Vannaththivillu, Puttalam. Rāl: shrimp

Periya-maḍuva: Pallam, Puttalam. Periya: big

Oya-maḍuva: Maha Villachchiya, Anuradhapura. Oya: stream

Pē-maḍuva: Maha Villachchiya, Anuradhapura. Pē: ghost

Maradan-maḍuva: Horowpohthana, Anuradhapura. See Maruta-maṭu

Paṇḍi-kāra-maḍuva: Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura.

Kasa-maḍuva: Mihinthale, Anuradapura. Kasa: Kāya, a flowering tree

Payiri-maḍuva: Thirappane Anuradhapura. Payiri: an edible green

Selesti-maḍuva: Thirappane, Anuradhapura

Uṭṭi-maḍuva: Thirappane, Anuradhapura

Vannam-maḍuva: Thirappane, Anuradhapura. Vaṇṇāṉ: washerman

Maruta-maḍu-vẹva: near Kammalbẹndivẹva, Horowpothana OIS. See Maruta-maṭu

Agul-maḍuva: Belliatta, Hambantota. Agul: ditch, moat

* * *

Kokku:

Kokku-vil: Nallur, Jaffna; Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa; Manmunai North, Batticaloa

Kokkut-taṅkiya-maṭu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa. Taṅkiya: stayed; from Taṅku: to stay, sojourn, abide, remain (Tamil, DED 3014)

Kokkup-paṭaiyāṉ: Madhu, Mannar; Musali, Mannar. Paṭai: crowd (Tamil, DED 3860); Āṉ: place

Kokku-nārai: Poratheevuppattu, Batticaloa

Kokkut-toṭuvāy: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu

Kokkuḻāy: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu

Kokkā-vil: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu

Kokkā-tīvu: Trincomalee, Trincomalee

* * *

Kok/ Koka/ Kokkā:

Kok-vẹva: Galgamuva, Kurunegala

Kokkā-vila: Chilaw, Puttalam

Kokā-vala: Baddegama, Galle; Matara, Four Gravets, Matara

Kokā-vẹva: Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura

Aň-kokkā-vala: Akmeemana, Galle

Kok-māduva: Welipitiya, Matara

Pādili Kok-maduva: Welipitiya, Galle. Pādili: =Pādiri, Christian priest (Sinhala, Sorata)

Kōk-nahara: Damana, Ampara

Kokunnệva: Bibile, Moneragala

* * *

Kevuḷi:

Kevuḷi-muṉai: Campūr, Trincomalee, (Trincomalee OIS). Foul Point is the colonial name of the place

* * *

Karuṭaṉ/ Keruṭaṉ:

Keruṭā-vil: Point Pedro, Jaffna

* * *

Koṇṭai:

Tiruk-koṇṭaiyaṭi-maṭu: Māṅkēṇi, Vakaneri OIS. Tiru+ koṇṭai+aṭi+maṭu. The prefix Tiru is added to mean sacred; Koṉṟai flower is considered auspicious in the worship of God Siva.

Koṇṭalaṭi: Koṇṭal+aṭi: Nallur, Jaffna

Koṇṭalup-pilavu: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu. Koṇṭal+u (an unusual empty morpheme)+pilavu

Koṇṭaiyaṉ-kēṇi: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa. Koṇṭai+aṉ (attributive suffix)+kēṇi; or probably Koṇṭaiyaṉ means a bird in this context

Koṇṭa-vaṭṭavāṉ: Amparai, Amparai (Tirukkovil OIS). Vaṭṭavāṉ: usually comes with tree names, meaning a jungle circuit, or vacant jungle, see column 475

* * *

Virāl:

Virāl-muṟippuva: Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura

* * *


Revised: Monday, 24 July 2017, 18:30

First published: Sunday, 23 March 2008, 20:53