Know the Etymology: 207
Place Name of the Day: Monday, 12 September 2011

Weli-oya, Weli-weriya, Wella-odaya

வெலி ஒய, வெலி வெரிய, வெல்ல ஓடய
Vaelioya, Vaeliveriya, Vaella ōḍaya

Wæli+oya
Wæli+weriya
Wælla+oadaya

• The sandy stream or the stream in the bed of sand
• The sand line or gravel line
• Pond or watercourse in the bed of sand or seashore

Wæli	Sand, gravel (Sinhala); Wælla: Sandy place, sand, sand bank, seashore (Sinhala); Vaalukam: White sand, sand dune (Tamil, Chilappathikaaram 6:131, 13:161); Vaal-ekkar: Sandbank, sand dune, white sand of the seashore or river bank (Tamil, Changkam diction, Kaliththokai 124:4); from Vaal: Whiteness, purity, abundance (Tamil, Changkam Diction, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 5364); Cognate of Paal: Milk known for its whiteness (Tamil, DED 4096); Baali: Sand of the river bank or seashore (Oriya); Veli: Sand (Divehi/ Maldivian); Vaalukaa: Sand. Gravel (Sanskrit, Prakrit); Veali: Boundary, coastal tract or seashore as it makes boundary between land and sea, paddy field (Tamil, DED 5538, Changkam Diction, Ku’runthiokai 345:7, Porunarrattuppadai 246-247); Vealai: Sandy seashore, seashore, sea (Tamil, Changkam Diction, Paripaadal 19:18, Chilappathikaaram 6,v1, 6-131); Velaa: Limit, boundary, boundary of sea and land, seashore (Sanskrit, Prakrit)
Oya	(singular), Oyaval (plural): Rivulet, stream, a popular place name suffix (Sinhala): Also, Hoya, Ho: Small river, branch of a river, rivulet (Sinhala); Uyavai: Forest stream (Tamil, Thivaakaram 5:48, Choodaama’ni 11:160); a creeper in the forests that yield water (Tamil, Changkam Diction, Malaipadukadaam 136); from the root Oy: (verb): moving fast, flowing fast, dragging as in a flow of river (Tamil, Changkam Diction, Akanaanoo’ru 68:17); Oy: To drag along as a flood, launch as a boat, send forth (Tamil, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 984); Uy: To carry, take away, discharge (Tamil, DED 984); Oy, Uy: To carry off (Kannada, DED 984); Oyil: Force or velocity of a river (Tulu, DED 984); Uy: To carry, to take away (Parji, Gadba, DED 984); Oye: To take away (Malto, DED 984); Oiyali: To take away (Kuwi, DED 984); Oi: Current in the sea, flow, flux, stream, tide (Dhivehi/ Maldivian, An Etymological Dictionary of Maldivian Island Names p135, 176). Also see columns on Galoya and Ho-pe
Wari	Line, row (Sinhala); Vari: Line, streak, strip, course, line of writing, row (Tamil, DED 5263); Cognates in 10 Dravidian languages (DED 5263); Varisai: Line, row, order, regularity, series, turn (in duty or work), mark of honour (Tamil, DED 5269 a); Varise: Line, row, lineage (Kannada, DED 5269 a); Varusa: Row. Line series, order, arrangement, a turn by rotation (Telugu, DED 5269 a); Vaar: A row (Tamil, DED 5269 b); A line (Malayalam, DED 5269 b); Baar: A line, row (Kannada, DED 5269 b); Baaru: Line. Row, rank, range, series (Telugu, DED 5269 b)
Oadaya	Also Oadea: Small lake, watercourse (Sinhala); Oadai: Large watercourse, dyke, pond, tank, reservoir, moat (Tamil, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 1041); From the root Oadu: To run (Tamil, DED 1041); Oata: Water course (Malayalam, DED 1041); Current of water (Kannada, DED 1041); Current of a stream (Tulu, DED 1041); Oadika: Stream, current (Telugu, DED 1041); Oa’ra: Channel, drain (Kui, DED 1041). Also see column on Kavaddi Oadai.

The place name component, Wæli in Sinhala and Vali in Eezham Tamil meaning sand or a sandy place, has been discussed in the previous columns Valikaamam and Valiththu’ndal.

The corresponding cognate in old Tamil is the word Vaalukam that is found used in the meaning of white sand or sand dunes.

The phrase Vaal-ekkar in Changkam diction meant a sandbank, sand dune and white sand of the seashore or riverbank.

Even though a cognate Vaalukaa is found in the Sanskrit and Prakrit dictions meaning sand or gravel, the etymology of the word seem to be corresponding to the word Vaal, which means whiteness, abundance etc., in Tamil/ Dravidian (Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 5364).

Vaal meaning whiteness: (DED 5364, cognate of Paal, DED 4096)

“வால்-எயிறு” (குறுந்தொகை 276:4)

“vaal-eyi’ru”

White teeth ((Ku’runthokai 276:4)

Vaal-ekkar as dunes or bank of white sand:

“வெண்திரை வால்-எக்கர் வாய் சூழும்” (கலித்தொகை 124:4)

“Ve’nthirai vaal-ekkar vaay choozhum..”

(Where) the white waves (of the sea) reach and engulf the white sand dunes (Kaliththokai 124:4)

Vaalukam as white sand:

“வாலுகம் குவைஇய மலர்ப் பூந்துருத்தி” (சிலப்பதிகாரம் 13:161)

“Vaalukam kuvai-iya malarp poonthuruththi”

The islet of flowers (amidst the river) heaped with white sand (Chilappathikaaram 13:161)

Vaal as abundance:

“வாலிதின் விளைந்தன ஐவனம் வெண்நெல்” (மலைபடுகடாம் 115)

“Vaalithin vi’lainthana aivanam ve’n-nel”

The mountain variety of white rice grew in abundance (Malaipadukadaam 115)

“வால் வெண்மை மிகுதி தூய்து ஆம்” (சூடாமணி நிகண்டு 11:217)

“Vaal ve’nmai mikuthi thooythu aam”

Vaal means, whiteness, abundance and purity (Choodaama’ni Lexicon 11:217)

* * *

Wælla in Sinhala is probably a place name component related to Wæli.

In Sinhala, Wælla means a sandy place, sand, sand bank and seashore.

The corresponding cognates of Dravidian etymology in old Tamil are Veali and Vealai, which mean a sandy seashore, sandbank or sea because they make boundaries between land and water.

Veali in its shades of meaning boundary, limit, fence etc., is assigned to Dravidian etymology (Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 5538).

In Sanskrit and Prakrits also there is a word Velaa which means, limit, boundary, boundary of sea and land, and seashore. Etymologically the word goes with Dravidian.

From the same etymological root Veali in Tamil and Wela in Sinhala mean a paddy field.

Veali meaning boundary (by sea):

“பெருநீர் வேலி எம் சிறு நல் ஊரே” (குறுந்தொகை 345:7)

“Peruneer veali em chi’ru nal oorea”

Bordered by the sea is our good little village (Ku’runthokai 345:7)

Vealai meaning sandy seashore:

“தண் மணல் ஆர் வேலை யாத்திரை செல் யாறு” (பரிபாடல் 19:18)

“Tha’n ma’nal aar vealai yaaththirai chel yaa’ru”

The river that traverses through the seashore abounding with sand (Paripaadal 19:18)

“வேலை வாலுகத்து விரிதிரைப் பரப்பில்” (சிலப்பதிகாரம் 6:131)

“Vealai vaalukaththu virithiraip parappil”

In the wavy sea expanding from the shore of white sands (Chilappathikaaram 6:131)

For Veali and Wela meaning a paddy field, see column on Bandarawela

* * *

The place name suffix Weriya in Wæli-weriya corresponds to Wari in Sinhala meaning a row or line. The word is a cognate of Vari in Tamil meaning a row, line, an array etc. and is of Dravidian etymology (DED 5263)

Oya is a very popular place name component in Sinhala, meaning a stream or rivulet. The plural form of Oya in Sinhala is Oyaval. The old Tamil cognate Uyavai, meaning a forest stream, its Dravidian etymological roots and examples of usage in ancient Tamil literature are discussed in the columns Ho-pe and Galoya.

Oadaya in Sinhala (also Oadea), meaning a small lake or watercourse, its Tamil cognate Oadai and its Dravidian etymology are discussed with usage examples in the column Kavaddi-oadai.

* * *

Wæli-oya is in Ambagamuwa division of Nuwara Eliya district. It is also the name of a number of streams or small rivers in the island. A place Ma’nal-Aaru in the Mullaiththeevu district is recently Sinhalicised as Wæli-oya.

Wæli-weriya is in Gampaha division of Gampaha district. There is another place with this name in the Matara Four Gravets division of Matara district

Wælla-oadaya is a place in Tangalle division of Hanbantota district

* * *

Some related place names:

Weriya:

Udu-weriya: The upper line or high range; Mahawa division, Kurunegala district

Wariya-gala: The line of rocks or rocky hills/ the rocky hill of the water source; Doluwa division, Kandy district

* * *

Wæli:

Weli-pillewa: The sand mounds in the swamp; Kaduwela division, Colombo district. Pillææwa: Little mounds in a swamp (Sinhala); Paa’lam: Mass, ingot (Tamil, MTL, DED 4114)

Weli-vita: The sand hill; Kaduwela division, Colombo district; Hataraliyadda division, Kandy district

Weli-hinda: (The place) where sand deposited; Kaduwela division, Colombo district

Weli-kanna: The sand canal or drain; Hanwella division, Colombo district. Kaanuwa: Drain (Sinhala); Kaan: Drain, ditch (Tamil, from Ka’navaay, DED 1163)

Weli-kada: The sandy side; SJ Kotte division, Colombo district; Gampaha division, Gampaha district

Weli-hena: The sandy field of slash and burn cultivation; Katana division, Gampaha district; Dambulla division, Matale district; Akmeemana division, Galle district; Athuraliya division, Matara district; Chilaapam division, Puththa’lam district

Weliya: The sands; Minuwangoda division, Gampaha district

Weli-kada-mulla: The corner of the sandy side; Wattala district, Gampaha district; Attanagala division, Gampaha district

Weli-sara: The sandy lake or pool; Wattala division, Gampaha district. Sara: Lake, pool (Sinhala)

Weli-gam-pitiya: The high ground of the sandy village; Ja-Ela division, Gampaha district

Weli-weriya: The sand-line; Gampaha division, Gampaha district; Matara division, Matara district. Vari: Row, line (Tamil, DED 5263); Row, line (Sinhala)

Weli-ketiya-watta: The grove in the sandy part; Dompe division, Gampaha district

Weli-ketella: Probably, the rivulet in the sandy part (Wæli-kæti-ælla); Madurawala division, Kalutara district

Weli-kala: Sandy threshing floor; Millania division, Kalutara district. Kala: Threshing floor (Sinhala); Ka’lam: Place, open space, threshing floor (Tamil, DED 1376)

Weli-pitiya: The sandy plain/ high ground/ mound; Beruwala division, Kalutara district; Katuwan division, Hambantota district; Welipitiya division, Matara district; Polpithigama division, Kurunegala district

Weli-manana: The sandy road or way; Mathugama division, Kalutara district; Maana: Way (Sinhala);

Weli-penna: (The place of) the plant Anisophyllea zeylanica; The plant, peculiar to the island, called Wæli-pænnaa is also called Wæli-piyaana; Mathugama division, Kalutara district

Weli-galla: The place of sandstone; Poojapitiya division, Kandy district; Mawanella division, Kegalle district

Weli-ketiya: The sandy part; Medadumbara division, Kandy district; Akmeemana division, Galle district

Maha-weli-uyana: The garden on Mahaweli River; KFGand G Korale, Kandy district

Weli-goda-pola: The market place or place in sandy bank/ mound/ hill; Hatharaliyadda division, Kandy district

Boo-weli-kada: The devil’s sandy part; Udunuwara division, Kandy district

Weli-gala: (The area of) sandstone; Ukuwela division, Matale district

Weli-ganga: The river of sands; Udapalatha division, Kandy district

Weli-gampala: The sandy village-place (Gam: village; Pala: place, spot); Pasbage Korale, Kandy district

Weliwarana-golla: Laggala-Pallegama division, Matale district

Weli-wathu-goda: The bank/ hill of sandy grove; Balapitiya division, Galle district

Weli-oya: The sandy river/ stream; Ambagamuwa division, Nuwara Eliya district

Uda-weli-viti-thalaawa: The upper part of the grassland in the sand hill; Nagoda division, Galle district

Patha-weli-vitiya: The lower part of the sand hill; Welivitiya division, Galle district

Weli-patha: The sandy side or quarter; Galle Four Gravets division, Galle district. Pætta: Side, quarter, direction (Sinhala); Pakkam: Side, direction (Tamil); Pakir: Share, section, piece (Tamil, DED 3808); Pakuthi: Portion (Tamil, DED 3808); Paksha: Wing, side, flank (Sanskrit)

Wadu-weli-vitiya: The carpenter’s part of Weli-vitiya (the sandy hill); Welivitiya division, Galle district; Wadu: Pertaining to carpentery (Sinhala); Wadu-raala: Carpenter (Sinhala); Wadu-leeya: Carpenter’s rule, generally reckoned about two cubits (Sinhala); Vadi: Small cane or stick (Tamil, DED 5224); Form, shape (Tamil, DED 5223); Vati: Stick, staff; Vatippikka: To have the measure struck (Malayalam, DED 5224)

Weli-piti-modara: The estuary having a sand mound; Galle Four Gravets division, Galle district

Weli-watta: The sandy grove; Galle Four Gravets division, Galle district

Weli-konda: The sand-girdle; Imaduwa division, Galle district

Maha-weli-kada-ara: The big river in the sandy-side; Sooriyawewa division, Hambantota district

Weli-wewa: The sandy tank; Sooriyawewa division, Hambantota district

Weli-gatta: The sandy part; Lunugamvehera division, Hambantota district

Weli-pothe-wala: The flat sandy forest; Thissamaharama division, Hambantota district

Weli-patan-vila: The pond in sandy grassland; Ambalanthota division, Hambantota district

Weli-kumbura: The sandy paddy field; Padiyathalawa division, Ampaa’rai district: Mawathagama division, Kurunegala district; Narammala division, Kurunegala district

Weli-yawa: The sandy place; Ehetuwewa division, Kurunegala district; Thambuttegama division, Anuradhapura district

Weli-dalla: The sandy water or the sandy pond; Polpithigama division, Kurunegala district

Weli-vehera: The Buddhist temple in the sandy area; Katupotha division, Kurunegala district

Welige-pola: The sandy market place; Mawathagama division, Kurunegala district; Weligepola division, Ratnapura district

Kahanda-weli-potha: The flat sands of yellow or saffron colour; Mawathagama division, Kurunegala district

Weli-kanda: The sandy sector; Rideegama division, Kurunegala district; Welikanda division, Polonnaruwa district

Weli-kare; The sandbank; Alawwa division, Kurunegala district

Weli-goda-pitiya: The high ground of plain of the sand-hill or bank; Polgahawela division, Kurunegala district

Weli-pelessa: The sandy place; Arachchikkattuwa division, Puththa’lam district. From, Pala: place, spot (Sinhala)

Weli-gollewa: The sandy grove; Kahatagasdigiliya division, Anuradhapura district

Weli-Ela: The sandy rivulet; Lankapura division, Polonnaruwa district

Weli-mada: The (place of) sandy mud; Welimada division, Badulla district

Weli-bissa: The sand mound; Badulla division, Badulla district; Hildummulla division, Badulla district

Weli-vulla: Probably, the sandy whirlpool (from Ulela: whirling in the water); Hali-Ela division, Badulla district

Weli-mada-watta: The grove part of Welimada; Welimada division, Badulla district

Weli-kada-gama: The village in the sandy side; Welimada division, Badulla district

Weli-yaaya: The sandy expanse; Moneragala division, Moneragala district

Weli-ara: The sand-river; Savanagala division, Moneragala district

Weli-patha-yaya: The expanse of the sandy side; Balangoda division, Ratnapura district

Weli-hela-thenna: The place of sandy swamp; Yatiyanthota division, Kegalle district. Hæla: Swamp, marshy land, bog (Sinhala)

Weli-gamuwa: The sandy village; Rambukkana division, Kegalle district

Weli-maluwa: The sand terrace; Pelmadulla division, Ratnapura district

* * *

Wælla:

Sudu-wella: The white sands; Colombo division, Colombo district; Delthota division, Kandy district; Madampe division, Puththa’lam district

Han-wella: The blunt bank or shore; Hanwella division, Colombo district; Katupotha division, Kurunegala district; Weerambugedara division, Kurunegala district

Wellam-pitiya: The sandy high grounds; Kolannawa division, Colombo district

Wella-watta: The grove in the sands or seashore; Thimbirigasyaya division, Colombo district; Hikkaduwa division, Galle district

Wella-weediya: The sandy road or the road in the seashore: Negombo division, Gampaha district

Maa-wella: The big sandbank or shore: Kelaniya division, Gampaha district; Imaduwa district, Galle district; Tangalle division, Hambantota district

Ela-wella: The sands of the stream: Marudawala division, Kalutara district

Yati-wella: The sandy place at the bottom; Hanguranketha division, Nuwara Eliya district

Athuru-wella: The sand in the gap; Bentota division, Galle district

Kuda-wella: The smaller sandy area; Tangalle division, Hambantota district

Thani-wella-gama: The village in the watery sand; Madampe division, Puththa’lam district

Matta-kotu-wella: The sands or seashore having a mud-walled enclosure; Mahawewa division, Puththa’lam district

Modara-wella: The sands or beach of the estuary; Mahawewa division,Puththa’lam district

Wella-waaya: The sandy expanse; Wellawaya division, Moneragala district

Ruwan-wella: The golden sands; Ruwanwella division, Kegalle district

First published: Monday, 12 September 2011, 06:17