Know the Etymology: 489
Place Name of the Day: Wednesday, 10 August 2016

Milla-gaha-mula, Mulana, Mul-oya, Mulaṭiyana

மில்லக,ஹமுல, முலன, முல்-ஒய, முல[ட்]டியன
Milla-gaha-mula, Mulana, Mul-oya, Mulaṭiyana

Milla+gaha+mula
Mula+ana
Mul+oya
Mul+kẹṭi+ana

The locality or cluster of Milla trees

The main place, neighbourhood or corner

The main stream or the originating stream

The main place or central part of a shifting cultivation tract

Mula1	adjacency, proximity, neighbourhood, locality; “Samīpaya” (Sinhala, Sorata); related to Mula meaning origin and root of a tree or any plant (Sinhala, Sorata, Clough); similar to Aṭi in Tamil meaning root or base of a tree as well as the locality of the tree as in Ālaṭi; Mūla: root, proximity (Prakrit, CDIAL 10250); root (Sanskrit, Rig Vedic, CDIAL 10250); CDIAL suggests Dravidian origin, citing Tamil; Muḷai: (verb) to germinate as seeds (Tamil, DED 4997); peg (Tamil, DED 4998); Muḷā: radish (Tamil, DED 5004)
Mula2	toponymic variation of Mulla, Mulu: corner (Sinhala); Mūlai: corner (Tamil, DED 5044); corner stands for a locality in place names
Mula3	= Muḷu: multitude, assemblage; “Gaṇaya, Samūhaya, Rāśiya, Kẹṭiya” (Sinhala, Sorata); Muḻuppu: thronged state (Malayalam, DED 4992); Muḻukka: to grow thick (Malayalam, DED 4992); Muḻu: all, entire, whole, large (Tamil, DED 4992)
Mula4	also Mul: (adjective, prefix in Sinhala place names) primary, original, core, what that is existing from the beginning; “Prārambhayehi pavatinna, Pūrvaya” (Sinhala, Sorata); = Mūla: “Ārambhaya, Pradhāna, Prathama” (Sinhala, Sorata); related to Mula: root (see Mula 1); related to Mula: = Mudala: capital (Sinhala, Sorata); Mutal: beginning, first as in rank or place, cause, one who is first or oldest, principal, capital, place (Tamil, DED 4950)
Mulaṭiya	probably from Mul-kaṭiya or Mul-kẹṭiya, meaning the main part, central part, original settlement etc.; Mul-kẹta: the central part of a shifting cultivation tract, “Hēnaka mẹdakẹbẹlla” (spoken Sinhala, Sorata). See Mula 4 above and see columns on Tōlai-kaṭṭi and Bora-gas-kẹṭiya for meaning and etymology of Kaṭṭi/ Kẹṭi
Milla	also Mīlla, Milila: a valuable and durable timber tree, Vitex altissima, the chaste tree (Sinhala, Clough); also called peacock chaste tree because of its leaves resembling peacock’s foot; Mayilai, Mayil-aṭi, Mayil-aṭi-nocci: the tall chaste tree, Vitex altissima; peacock’s foot tree, Vitex alata; water peacock’s foot tree, Vitex leucoxylon (Tamil, MTL); Mayil: peacock (Tamil, DED 4642); Mil: peacock (Kota, DED 4642); Mal: peacock (Gondi, Pengo, DED 4642); Mallu: peacock (Gondi, DED 4642); Mellu: peacock (Kuwi, DED 4642); see column on Maila-gas-tiṭar
Oya	(singular), Oyaval: (plural) rivulet, stream (Sinhala, Clough); “Gańga, Diya-pāra” (Sinhala, Sorata); Uyavai: forest stream (Tamil, Tivākaram 5:48, Cūṭāmaṇi 11:160); a creeper in the forests that yield water (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Malaipaṭukaṭām 136); from the root Oy: (verb): moving fast, flowing fast, dragging as in a flow of river (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Akanānūṟu 68:17); Oy: (verb) 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).

The term Mul/ Mula is used in different meanings in Sinhala place names, depending on its suffix and prefix positions.

Mula, coming as suffix in place names like Milla-gaha-mula, means a locality or multitude (as of cluster of trees).

In meaning a locality or neighbourhood, Mula has the shade of meaning, “Samīpaya” (proximity), given in Sorata’s dictionary for the terms, Mul and Mūla. The usage probably comes from the terms meaning the root of a tree or base of anything, and hence standing for the locality as well. This is comparable to a similar usage of the term Aṭi in Tamil, which means base as well as locality as in place names like Āl-aṭi (the locality of a banyan tree).

Mul/ Mula in Sinhala meaning root corresponds to Mūla meaning the same in Rig Vedic Sanskrit, but the Comparative Dictionary of Indo-Aryan Languages traces Dravidian origin for the term (CDIAL 10250, see box above).

On Mula meaning multitude (as of cluster of trees), Sorata equates the term to another Sinhala word, Muḷu, meaning multitude, assemblage, collection etc. Note the place name Kapu-mulu-goda (the bank having a cluster of silk cotton trees), for Mulu and Mula being variants.

Muḷu meaning multitude in Sinhala is a cognate of Muḻu in Tamil/ Dravidian meaning all, entire, whole etc., (DED 4992). The Malayalam word forms Muḻukka meaning to grow thick and Muḻuppu meaning thronged state are closer to the toponymic usage of Muḻu/ Mula in Sinhala.

Mul coming as prefix in Sinhala place names mostly mean main, chief, central, original or status of coming from the very beginning. In these shades of meaning the term corresponds to Mula 1 meaning root in Sinhala and Muḷai as verb in Tamil/ Dravidian meaning to germinate (DED 4997); or corresponds to Mudala another Sinhala term equated to Mula (Sorata) that has the Tamil/ Dravidian cognate Mutal, meaning beginning, first as in rank or place, cause, one who is first or oldest, principal, capital and place (DED 4950)

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Milla, Milila and Mīlla are the Sinhala names of a valuable and durable timber tree, known in English as the chaste tree, the tall chaste tree or the peacock chaste tree and botanically known as Vitex altissima.

The same tree is known as Mayilai, Mayil-aṭi or Mayil-aṭi-nocci in Tamil. The name originated from its leaf resembling peacock’s foot. Mayil is the Tamil/ Dravidian word for peacock (DED 4642). The Sinhala and Tamil terms for the tree are cognates, but note that the Sinhala word formation is closer to Mil, Mal, Mallu and Mellu meaning peacock in non-mainstream Dravidian languages such as Kota, Gondi, Pengo and Kuwi (DED 4642).

See earlier columns for etymological discussions on Gaha, Oya and Aṭiyana (Kaṭiya/ Kẹṭiya) respectively meaning tree, stream and part.

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Milla-gaha-mula is noticed as a place name in Doluwa division of Kandy district and in Ambagamuwa division of Nuwara Eliya district.

Mulana is a place in Bope-Poddala division of Galle district. Another place by the same name is found in Ambalantota division of Hambantota district.

Mul-oya is in Hanguranketha division of Nuwara Eliya district.

Mulaṭiyana is in the division of its own name in Matara district. There is another Mulaṭiyana in Agalawatta division of Kalutara district

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Some related place names:

Mula:

Milla-gaha-mula-tẹnna: The high plain of the locality of Milla trees; or the high plain having a multitude of Milla trees; Naula, Matale

Midella-mula-hēna: The shifting cultivation field in the locality of Midella trees; Horana, Kalutara. Midella: name of certain trees of the genus Barringtonia; Diya-midella, seaside Indian oak, Barringtonia racemosa; Ela-midella, small Indian oak, Barringtonia acutangula (Sinhala, Clough); probably from Mūdilla

Mora-gaha-mula: The locality of Mora trees; or the cluster of Mora trees; Medadumbara, Kandy

Muruta-gaha-mula: The locality of Muruta trees; or the cluster of Muruta trees; Udunuwara, Kandy.

Hora-mula: The locality of Hora trees; or the cluster of Hora trees; Godakawela, Ratnapura

Veraḷu-gaha-mula: The locality of Veraḷu trees; or the cluster of Veraḷu trees; Godakawela, Ratnapura

Gala-pā-mula: The locality or neighbourhood of the rocky place; Galewala, Matale. Pā: place, “Pala” (Sinhala, Sorata)

Nayā-pā-mula: The cobra jungle neighbourhood; Baddegama, Galle. Pā: jungle, “Vanaya” (Sinhala, Sorata)

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Mulu:

Kapu-mulu-goḍa: The bank/ hill/ village found with a cluster of silk cotton trees; Hikkduwa, Galle. Kapu: silk cotton tree (Sinhala, Clough)

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Mulana:

Mẹda-mulana: The middle locality; Weeraketiya, Hambantota

Mulan-yāya: The main expanse or the main tract; Weeraketiya, Hambantota

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Mul:

Mul-kaḍa-kanda: The hill of the main or original forest; Millaniya, Kalutara

Mul-gama: The main or central village, or the village existing from the beginning; Doluwa, Kandy

Mul-hal-kẹlē: The main forest of Hal trees; or the original part of the Hal-tree forest; Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Mul-ẹnḍiyā-vala: The main or original part of the Āṇḍiyā-vala forest (Āṇḍiyā-vala: the mendicant’s forest); Embilipitiya, Ratnapura

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Milla:

Milla-wala: The forest of Milla trees; Mirigama, Gampaha

Millatē: The Milla tree neighbourhood; Dompe, Gampaha

Millẹva: The Milla tree locality; Horana, Kalutara

Millaniya: The place of milla trees; Millaniya, Kalutara

Millaňga: Milla-laňga: The neighbourhood of a Milla tree; Pathdumbara, Kandy

Milla-gas-piṭiya: The high ground plain of Milla trees; Udapalatha, Kandy

Milla-vāna: The Milla tree forest; Pallepola, Matale

Millava: The Milla tree locality; Neluwa, Galle; Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala

Milla-goḍa: The bank/ hill/ village of Milla trees; Hikkaduwa, Galle; Nikaweratiya, Kurunegala

Millāna: The Milla tree place; Dibulagala, Polonnaruwa

Millattāva: The neighbourhood of a Milla tree; Mahiyanganaya, Badulla

Milla-bẹdda: The Milla tree jungle; Lunugala, Badulla

Milla-gama: The village of Milla trees; Ella, Badulla

Milla-viṭiya: The Milla-tree mound; Kuruvita, Ratnapura

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Vẹl-milla: The place that should pay tax to the ruler; Horana, Kalutara: Vẹl-mila: a tax or revenue that should be paid to the ruler in the old times; “Purātanayehi rajuṭa gevu baddak” (Sinhala, Sorata)

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Halmilla:

Hal-milla: also Hal-mīlla, Hal-milila: a valuable timber tree called Trincomalee wood, Berrya ammonilla (Sinhala, Clough). The tree must have got the name by combining the names of two trees, Hal and Milla, may be because of resemblances in timber. Hal-milla was probably a timber tree introduced into the island.

Halmillāva: Thissamaharama, Hambantota

Halmilla-gala: Giribawa, Kurunegala

Elagam-millava: Kotavehera, Kurunegala

Halmillẹva: Nikaweratiya, Kurunegala; Wariyapola, Kurunegala; Thalawa, Anuradhapura

Halmilla-vẹva: Polpithigama, Kurunegala; Galnewa, Anuradhapura; Palagala, Anuradhapura

Halmilla-koṭuva: Kobeigane, Kurunegala

Halmilla-vẹṭiya: Kebithigollewa, Anuradhapura

Paraṇa-halmillẹva: Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura

Tāmara-halmillẹva: Rambewa, Anuradhapura

Dacci-halmilla-vẹva: Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura

Maha-halmillẹva: Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura

Puňci-halmillẹva: Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura

Digan-halmillẹva: Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura

Tavalan-halmillẹva: Horowpothana, Anuradhapura

Halmilla-kulama: Nochchiyagama, Anuradhapura

Halmilla-kẹṭiya: Embilipitiya, Ratnapura

First published: Wednesday, 10 August 2016, 07:41