Know the Etymology: 320
Place Name of the Day: Monday, 03 February 2014

Eyp-pan'rik-kaadu

எய்ப்பன்றிக்காடு
Eyppaṉṟikkāṭu

Eyppan'ri+kaadu

The jungle of porcupines

Eyppan'ri

Also Ey, Eym-maan, Mu'lavu, Mu'laa, Mu'l-maa, Mu'lavu-maan, Mu'l'lam-pan'ri, Mu'l'lup-pan'ri, Mud-pan'ri: Porcupine (Tamil, DED 2776, 4995, Natti'nai, 85:8, Thivaakaram, 3:37); Eyyan, Eyyam-panni: Porcupine, hedgehog (Malayalam, DED 2776); Ey, Eyyi, Eyyu: Porcupine (Kannada, DED 2776); Eyi-pagnji: Porcupine (Tulu, DED 2776); Oayi-ka'ne: Quill of a porcupine (Tulu, DED 2852); Oy, Oyyi, Hoy, Soy, Suy: Porcupine (Gondi, DED 2852); Soy: Porcupine (Konda, DED 2852); Hoy: Porcupine (Pengo, DED 2852); Huy: Porcupine (Manda, DED 2852); Ey: (verb) to discharge arrows; (noun) Arrow (Tamil, DED 805); Eyinan: Hunter (Tamil, DED 805); Eyi'ru: Tooth, tusk of an elephant or wild hog (Tamil, DED 554); Pan'ri: Hog, swine, pig (Tamil, 4039); Ittææwaa: Porcupine, hedgehog (Sinhala); Ittæ-koora: Prickle of the porcupine (Sinhala, Koor: pointed edge, Tamil, DED 1898); Ee, Eeya: Arrow (Sinhala): Ee, Eer: Quill (Tamil, Pingkalam, 8: 84:5, DED 534)

Kaadu

Forest, jungle, dessert, paddy field (Tamil, DED 1438); Also, Kaa, Kaal, Kaan, Kaanakam, Kaanal, Kaavam: Forest (Tamil, DED 1418)

Eyp-pan'ri in Tamil means a porcupine, which is conspicuous for its sharp spiny quills.

The two components, Ey and Pan'ri in the word, literally mean arrow and hog, and both are of Tamil/ Dravidian etymology (DED 805, 4039).

In old Tamil, the word Ey itself meant a porcupine. Another old Tamil name for porcupine is Eym-maan (Maa in Tamil is a generic term for animals or beasts, DED 4780).

The usage Eyp-pan'ri, comparing porcupine to a hog is noticed in the old Tamil commentary for Perumpaa'naattuppadai (MTL) and also in Malayalam and Tulu (DED 2776). The comparison, using the prefix Mu'l (meaning anything that is pointed, Tamil/ DED 4995) could also be seen in the Thivaakaram lexicon (3:37).

Even though Mu'l'lup-pan'ri, Mu'l'lam-pan'ri and Mud-pan'ri are the common terms for porcupine in modern Tamil, Eyp-pan'ri could still be heard in the usage of Eezham Tamils in Vanni.



Ey meaning porcupine and Eym-mu'l meaning its quill:

“Eym mu'l anna paroo-u mayir eruththin cheyyum meaval chi'ru kad pan'ri” (Natti'nai 98:1)

“எய்ம் முள் அன்ன பரூஉ மயிர் எருத்தின் செய்யும் மேவல் சிறு கட் பன்றி” (நற்றிணை 98:1)

The small-eyed wild boar coming into paddy fields that has a nape of sturdy hair like the spiny quill of a porcupine


Ey, Mu'l-maa and Mud-pan'ri meaning porcupine:

Eyyea mu'lmaa challiyam mudpan'ri (Thivaakaram 3:37)

எய்யே முள்மா சல்லியம் முட்பன்றி (திவாகரம் 3:37)

Ey, Mu'l-maa and Challiyam mean Mud-pan'ri (porcupine)


Eym-maan meaning porcupine:

“Eyinar thantha Eym-maan e'ri thasai” (Pu'ranaanoo'ru 177:14)

“எயினர் தந்த எய்ம்மான் எறி தசை” (புறநானூறு 177:14)

The meat of hunted (by hitting) porcupine brought by the hunters


Mu'lavu, Mu'lavu-maan meaning porcupine:

“Kaanavan eytha mu'lavu-maan kozhung ku'rai” (Natti'nai 85:8)

“கானவன் எய்த முளவுமான் கொழுங் குறை” (நற்றிணை 85:8)

The chunky meat piece of porcupine arrowed by the forest man




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Eyp-pan'rik-kaadu is a locality in Chiddipuram, Vara'ni, in Thenmaraadchi division of Jaffna district. There is a temple at this locality, known by the name Eyppan'rikkaadu Ka'n'nakai Amman temple (Vaakkiya Pagnchaangkam details on annual temple festivals)

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Some related place names:

Eyp-pan'riyaa-ku'lam: The tank in the habitat of porcupines; Vavunikku'lam, Maanthai East division of Mullaiththeevu district. The place is now called as Ampaa'l-puram.

First published: Monday, 03 February 2014, 19:41