Know the Etymology: 352
Place Name of the Day: Monday, 02 June 2014

Panan-wala

பனன்வல
Pananvala

Pana+wala

The carpenter's forest

Pana

Carpenter (Sinhala); Panaawa: General name for comb (Sinhala, probably because it is carpentered or produced by workmanship); Pa'nikkan: Carpenter, master builder (Tamil, DED 3884); Pa'n: Service, work, business, employment, decoration (Tamil, DED 3884); Pa'nathi: Workmanship, action, creation, ornament (Tamil, DED 3884); Pa'nikku: Accuracy of design, elaboration in a work (Tamil, DED 3884); Pa'n'nu: To do anything with consideration and skill (Tamil, DED 3884); Pa'ndi: Cart, waggon, carriage; Pa'n'nai: Structure of a cart, boat; Pa'navai: Attic, wooden watch-hut built on trees (Tamil, Perungkathai, 37: 221, Periyaazhvaar, 2:3: 11, Kampar, Ara'nyam, 15:7, Malaipadukadaam, 297-8)

Wala

Forest (Sinhala); Vallai: Extensive thicket, big forest (Tamil, DED 5289)

Pana meaning carpenter in Sinhala is related to the root Pa'n in Dravidian meaning service, work, business, employment, decoration etc., and Pa'n'nu meaning to do anything with consideration and skill (Tamil, DED 3884).

Note that another probably related word Panaawa in Sinhala means comb, as it is a product of workmanship.

Both men and women wearing a comb on their hairdo was an attribute of old Sinhala culture. Hence combs were produced with decoration and workmanship.

Of the four kinds of traditional Sinhalese combs, Næmi-panaawa and Ræl-panaawa were hairdo attire for men; Adahanda-panaawa decorated the coiffure of women and Pira'na-panaawa was the combing comb.

For Pana in Sinhala meaning a carpenter, the relevant cognate in Tamil/ Dravidian is Pa'nikkan meaning a carpenter or master builder (DED 3884).

See earlier columns for etymological discussions on Wala/ Vallai.

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The usage of Pa'n related to workmanship/ carpentry:

“Pa'n amai nedun thear” (Natti'nai 167: 4)

“பண் அமை நெடுந் தேர்” (நற்றிணை 167: 4)

The high chariot of perfect carpentry or workmanship

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Panan-wala is a place in Dompe division of Gampaha district. Probably this is a forest to cut trees for carpentry

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Some related place names:

Panan-thadiya: The (place for) carpentered poles; Ukuwela division, Matale district. Tadi: Pole used in carrying burdens (Sinhala); Tati: Stick, staff, rod, cane, club, a piece as of wood (Tamil, DED 3030); Tadi: Stick, Staff, cudgel (Kannada, DED 3030)

Panan-gammana: The carpenter's hamlet or cultivation fields adjacent to the main village; Kothmale division, Nuwara Eliya district

Panan-gala: The carpenter's rocky hill; Thawalama division, Galle district. Probably a hill to cut trees for carpentry

Panan-wela: The carpenter's field; Hakmana division, Matara district

Panan-goda: The carpenter's hill, bank or village; Mahawewa division, Puththalam district

Pana-leeya: The (place for) carpentered planks; Polgahawela division, Kurunegala district

First published: Monday, 02 June 2014, 21:27