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Know the Etymology: 10
Place Name of the Day: Tuesday, 15 November 2016 Vil-paṟṟu/ Vil-pattuவில்பற்று/ வில்பத்துVil-paṟṟu/ Vil-pattu Vil+paṟṟu Vil+pattu The administrative division or sub-division of ponds and marshes
Vil/ Villu in Eezham Tamil and Vila/ Villuva in Sinhala mean a natural pond, lake or marsh. They are widely found place-name components, especially in the arid zone, dry-zone and coastal regions of the island. They are seldom found in the hill country (note the distribution under related place names). The occurrence of the term Vila in a place name Vila-game (which could also be read as Vil-game) found in one of the early Brahmi inscriptions coming from the East of the island, shows the antiquity of the component's toponymic usage. It is interesting to note that apart from the comparative usages of the Vil-related terms seen in Sinhala, Eezham Tamil and in Maldivian, the closest cognates come from a particular group of northeast South Asian languages, namely Oriya, Bengali and Assamese (see box). CDIAL relates Vila and the above said cognates to Bila in Rig Vedic Sanskrit meaning a cave, hole, pit or opening, but with a note on the Sanskrit term's possible Dravidian origin (CDIAL 9245). Note the presence of the root verbs Viḷ and Piḷ in Tamil/ Dravidian, meaning to crack, open out, to be gape etc., corresponding to pit or cavern formation; the nouns Viḷavu and Piḷavu meaning cleft, crevice, gap etc., and especially the Malayalam terms Viḷḷu and Viḷḷal meaning crack, aperture, hollow or rent (DED 5432, 4194). Also note Vil/ Bil in Dravidian commonly meaning a bow, corresponding to curvature (DED 5422). Eezham Tamil place names, ending or beginning with Vil, are largely found in the arid, limestone region including Jaffna that depends on the Vil-feature for its water resources. The associated components that come in some of these place names also retain certain old linguistic features, which are discussed in various other columns. The word form Villu is largely noticed in the Tamil place names of Vanni, East and Northwest. A considerable number of them are not ponds but marshes formed in hollow areas and in abandoned tanks. In Sinhala place names, Vil is a prefix form and Vila is the suffix form. The place names are largely found in North-central, Northwest, West and Southern parts.
The form Villuva in Sinhala is routed through Tamil, as this is seen mostly in Sinhalicising Tamil Villu-ending place names in the Puttalam district.
Paṟṟu/ Pattu in Tamil and Pattu/ Pattuva in Sinhala, meaning an administrative division or sub-division, correspond to the Tamil/ Dravidian verb and noun Paṟṟu (DED 4034). See box above and columns on Kōṟaḷaip-paṟṟu and Batgam-pattuva. Vil-paṟṟu/ Vil-pattu is a large territory in the Puttalam district of North-West Province. It was declared a forest reserve in 1905 and a sanctuary in 1938 to become a national park later. Administratively it is placed under Pallama (Paḷḷam) division of Puttalam district. The territory abounds with a large number of ponds, abandoned tanks and marshes. The territory was long known as Vil-paṟṟu or Vil-pattu, even before becoming a reserved forest, and was invariably marked as Wilpattu in the survey maps. In recent times, there is a tendency to mark it as Wilpatha in the administrative records. Some related place names: Vil: (Tamil) Curu-vil: Kayts, Jaffna Vikkā-vil: Kayts, Jaffna Iṇu-vil: Valikamam South, Jaffna Udu-vil: Valikamam, South, Jaffna Keruṭā-vil: Point Pedro, Jaffna Maṭṭu-vil: Thenmaratchi, Jaffna Maṇṭu-vil: Themaraṭchi, Jaffna; Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu Mantu-vil: Thenmaratchi, Jaffna Mirucu-vil: Thenmaratchi, Jaffna Nuṇā-vil: Thenmaratchi, Jaffna Rāmā-vil: Thenmaratchi, Jaffna Kokku-vil: Nallur, Jaffna; Koralaippattu, North, Batticaloa; Manmunai North, Batticaloa Kōṇṭā-vil: Nallur, Jaffna; also near Thenniyankulam (Tunukkai One Inch Sheet); near Iyakkachchi, Pachchilaippalli (Elephant Pass One Inch Sheet) Ittā-vil: Pachchilaippalli, Kilinochchi Mal-vil: Pachchilaippalli, Kilinochchi Mukā-vil: Pachchilaippalli, Kilinochchi Tērā-vil: Kandavalai, Kilinochchi; Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mulaiththeevu Kōṇā-vil: Karaichchi, Kilinochchi Nī-vil: Karaichchi, Kilinochchi Muḻaṅkā-vil: Poonakari, Kilinochchi Paḻu-vil: Poonakari, Kilinochchi Cuṇṇā-vil: Poonakari. Kilinochchi Tikku-vil: Poonakari, Kilinochchi Tumpuru-vil: Poonakari, Kilinochchi Vēra-vil: Poonakari, Kilinochchi Vil-laṭi: Poonakari, Kilinochchi Kuru-vil: Manthai West, Mannar Eru-vil: Manthai East, Mullaiththeevu; Manmunai South, Batticaloa Kompā-vil: Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaiththeevu Kokkā-vil: Oddusuddan, Mullaiththeevu Pottu-vil: Poththuvil, Amparai Olu-vil: Addalaichchenai, Amparai Kuṭu-vil: Eragama, Amparai Kōḷa-vil: Alayadivempu, Amparai Tampilu-vil: Thirukkoyil, Amparai Atikāri-vil: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa Nappatta-vil: Koralaippattu, Batticaloa Māvila-yāṟu: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa Vil-iṟavaṭṭai: Eravurpattu, Batticaloa Vil-veḷi: Kinniya, Trincomale Villūṇḍi: Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Trincomalee; also Jaffna city, Jaffna Vil: (Tamil: some additional place names from One Inch Sheets) Kaṟuppu-vil-kuḷam: Neethai, Akkaraippattu, amparai Cuṇṇā-vil: Tunukkai Vēra-vil: Tunukkai Periya Kasa-vil: Tunukkai Sinna Kasa-vil: Tunukkai Vēra-vil-kuḷam: Ponnaveli, Poonakari Neli-vil: Delft Olu-vil-kuḷam: Kayts Viyā-vil: Karainagar Yā-vil: Paḻai, Pachchilaippalli; Anaikkottai, Jaffna Kemmā-vil: Paḻai, Pachchilaippalli Pāṇa-vil: Soranpattu, Pachchilaippalli Mal-vil: near Iyakkachchi, Pachchilaippalli Mukā-vil: Iyakkachchi, Pachchilaippalli Kē-vil: near Vannan Kulam, Chundikkulam, Vadamaratchi East Mā-vil-āṟu: Vil: (Tamil: some additional place names from other sources) Cilu-vil: Madduvil North, Thenmaratchi, Jaffna (Balasundaram, p. 107); Cilimbi, Cilime, Cilme: a small tank (Tulu, DED 2367); 1. Cilume: an orifice, a bore, small pit, hole dug in the dry bed of a river or a dried up tank, spring of water or a fountain head (Kannada, DED 2367); Celama: hole or pit dug for water in the dry bed of a river or rivulet (Telugu, DED 2367); Cilu: (verb) to open, split (Tamil, DED 2566); Cilumpu: (verb) to flow out, gush out (Tamil, DED 2569); Cilupu: a pond (Telugu, DED 2569); 2. Cil: small (Tamil, DED 1571); Cilupa: little (Telugu, DED 1571); note the pond name Cilinta-kuḷam in Kayts Makku-vil: Periya-viḷāṉ, Ilavalai, Valikamam North, Jaffna (Balasundaram, p. 110); Makki: calcareous earth (Tamil, MTL citing Jaffna Dictionary); the white clayey cum soft gravel earth is usually formed by decayed marine shells; 1. Makku: (verb) to decay, be spoiled as by dampness (Tamil, DED 4750); Maṭku: (verb) be destroyed (Tamil, DED 4831); 2. Makuḷu, Makula: a kind of white clay called by that name. " Ē nam sudu mẹṭi vesesa" (Sinhala, Sorata);3. Marl: soil consisting of clay and lime (English from Marga in Latin) Nantā-vil: between Kokkuvil and Kōṇṭā-vil; Nalloor, Jaffna Vil-vaḷai: Mathakal (personal info) Villūṇṭi: Jaffna, city, Jaffna; Trincomalee Town and Gravets Vili: (Tamil: a variant of Vil) Viyā-vili-kuḷam: Urelu, Jaffna Villu: (Tamil) Villūṇṭi: Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Trincomalee; Koṭṭaṭi, Jaffna City, Jaffna Kumuḻa-villu: Musali, Mannar Talai-villu: Kalpitti, Puttalam; Marichchukkaddi, Mannar (the latter from One Inch Sheet) Villu: (Tamil: some additional place names from One Inch Sheets) Periya-villu: Kaluthavalai, Batticaloa; Kokkulai, Mullaiththeevu; Puttalam Town, Puttalam; Vilpaṟṟu, Puttalam; Kondachchi, Musali, Mannar Ciṉṉa-villu: Kokkulai, Mullaiththeevu; Puttalam Town, Puttalam; Kondachchi. Musali. Mannar Villuk-kuḷam: Kalutavalai, Batticaloa; Kooniththeevu, Trincomalee Villut-tōṭṭam: Chiththandikkudi, Batticaloa Vaṭṭavāṉ-villu: Kinnaiyai, Batticaloa Kokku-villu: Mavadiodai, Batticaloa Caṅkili-villu: Mavadioda, Batticaloa Mīn-villu: Kathiraveli, Trincomalee Katiraveḷi-villu: Kathiraveli, Trincomalee Tāmarai-villu: Kinniya, Trincomalee; Kathiraveli, Trincomalee; Kompanachchi, Trincomalee Kalla-kompu-villu: Kathiraveli, Trincomalee Vavaṇa-villu: Kanguveli, Trincomalee Campuk-kaḻi-villu: Kooniththeevu, Trincomalee Kokkāvil-villu: Kokkāvil Kōṇāvil-villu: Vaddakkachchi Uppu-villu: Nachchikkuda, Mannar Katira-villu: Nachchikkuda, Mannar Nākapaṭuvaṉ-villu: Kariyalai, Mannar Vaṇṇār-aṭampaṉ-villu: Nakapaduwan, Mannar Kollaṉ-villu: Vellankulam, Mannar Ilantai-villu: Tunukkai Vaṭali-villu: Tunukkai Nalla-tanṇīr-villu: Tunukkai Mūṅkil-villu: Tunukkai Kuru-villu: Tunukkai Tikku-villu: Tunukkai Kallu-veḷi-villu: Nalloor, Poonakai Cittaṉōṭai-villu: Valloor, Poonakari Erukkalam-piṭṭi-villu: Uruthirapuram, Poonakari Pattiṉippāy-villu: Poonakari Talaṉai-villu Kuḷam: Kayts Vaṇṇātti-villu: Puttalam Aṭappaṉa-villu: Puttalam Kulinci-villu: probably, Koḻiṅci-villu; Kokkuppadaiyan, Musali, Mannar (Koḻiñci: Chayaroot) Mā-villu: Kokkuppadaiyan, Musali, Mannar Mutalai-villu: Kondachchi, Musali, Mannar Ālam-villu: Kondachchi, Musali, Mannar Vāri-villu: Marichchukkaddi, Musali, Mannar Cēttu-villu: Marichchukkaddi, Musali, Mannar Kumiḻa-villu: Marichchukkaddi, Musali, Mannar Kaṟ-kuḻi-villu: Marichchukkaddi, Musali, Mannar Āvaram-villu: Marichchukkaddi, Musali, Mannar Māna-villu: Marichchukkaddi, Musali, Mannar Karampai-villu: Madu, Mannar Atara-villu: Madu, Mannar Kokkṭaiyāṉ-villu: Murunkan, Mannar Ulla-vela-villu: Panama, Amparai Villu: (some Villu names found in Vil-paṟṟu) Paṇikkar-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Kaḷi-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Kaḷa-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Mayil-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Periya-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Periya Nāka-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Uppu-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Periya Uppu-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Ciṉṉa Uppu-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Ata-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Kokare-villu: Kākkara-villu: Vilpaṟṟu (Kākkarai: partridge called Kautāri; note Kākkara-tīvu; Kākkaraṉ-kuḷam in Cheddi-kulam. Mannar) Nalla-taṇṇi-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Kōra-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Nebaḍa-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Māna-villu: Vilpaṟṟu. Māna: a kind of grass Marai-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Kolinje-villu: probably, Koḻiñci-villu: Vilpaṟṟu (Koḻiñci: Chayaroot) Ālaṉ-villu: Ālam-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Vīrakuṭi-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Karaṭi-ūttān-villu: Vilpaṟṟu Villuva: (Sinhalicised from Villu) Vanāta-villuva: from Vaṇṇātti-villu: Vaṇṇātti-villu, Puttalam (Vannātti-villu is the form found in survey maps) Aṭṭa-villuva: Puttalam, Puttalam Pottu-villuva: Puttalam, Puttalam Karantan-villuva: Munthal, Puttalam Tāra-kuḍi-villuva: Munthal, Puttalam. Tāra-kuḍi: from Tāri-kuḍi: man that steers or rows a ferryboat, boatman; “Toṭiyā, Orukārayā” (Sinhala, Sorata cites, Epigraphia Zeylanica, Vol III, 112); Tāra: crossing or passing over (Sinhala, Clough); Tārakuḍi seems to be meaning the caste or clan of ferrymen. Kaḷi-villuva: Vilpaṟṟu, Puttalam Vil: (Sinhala) Vil-gamuva: Wilgamuwa, Matale Vil-vala: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya Vil-gama: Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Trincomale Vil-bā-gedara: Panduwasnuwara East, Kurunegala Vil-gam-demaṭava: Maspotha, Kurunegala Vil-pata: Pallama, Puttalam Maha-vil-ācciya: Mahawilacciya, Anuradhapura Vil-amuṇa: Medadumbara, Kandy Vil-attava Paḷātta: Bingiriya, Kurunegala Maha-vil-attava: Chilaw, Puttalam Puňci-vil-attava: Chilaw, Puttalam Vila: (Sinhala) Gavara-vila: Ambagamuva, Nuwara Eliya Koṭu-vila: Kolonnawa, Colombo Gala-vila-vatta: Homagama, Colombo Kitula-vila: Homagama, Colombo Kūḍaḷu-vila: Seethawaka, Colombo Beli-ata-vila: Padukka, Colombo Gaň-goḍa-vila: Maharagama, Colombo Vila-vala: Dehiwala, Colombo Kaḷu-bō-vila: Dehiwala, Colombo Bellan-vila: Kesbewa, Colombo Tum-bō-vila: Kesbewa, Colombo Baravā-vila: Diwulapitiya, Gampaha Vẹllẹ-vila-mulla: Mirigama, Gampaha Kuṭṭi-vila: Dompe, Gampaha Kiṁbul-vila-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha Bali-vila: Mahara, Gampaha Kohol-vila: Kelaniya, Gampaha Biyan-vila: Biyagama, Gampaha Pamuṇu-vila: Biyagama, Gampaha Paṭṭi-vila: Biyagama, Gampaha Eḷu-vila: Panadura, Kalutara Maha-vila: Bandaragama, Kalutara; Yatiyanthota, Kegalle Karan-vila: Horana, Kalutara Kanan-vila: Horana, Kalutara; Maduruwala, Kalutara Arakā-vila: Ingiriya, Kalutara. Arak: Ārakṣāva, Rẹkavala (Sinhala, Sorata) Ẹṭa-vila: Kalutara, Kalutara Potu-vila: Beruwala, Kalutara; Polpithigama, Kurunegala; Ganewatta, Kurunegala; Madampe, Puttalam Hal-kańda-vila: Beruwala, Kalutara Kẹnda-gaha-vila: Beruwala, Kalutara Kāla-vila-kanda: Beruwala, Kalutara Kāla-vila: Beruwala, Kalutara Gal-pottā-vila: Dodangoda, Kalutara Nāra-vila: Mathugama, Kalutara Baṭa-goḍa-vila: Palindunuwara, Kalutara Maguru-mas-vila: Walallavita, Kalutara Dunu-vila: Akurana, Kandy Pan-vila: Panwila, Kandy; Baddegama, Galle; Hikkaduwa, Galle; Bope-poddala, Galle Pan-vila-tẹnna: Doluwa, Kandy Kara-vila-hēna: Naula, Matale Monara-vila: Pallepola, Matale Dunu-vila-pitiya: Wilgamuwa, Matale Maha-vila: Bentota, Galle Ran-toṭu-vila: Bentota, Galle Kaṭu-vila: Balapitiya, Galle Daň-gaha-vila: Karandeniya, Galle Vaturu-vila: Elpitiya, Galle Akula-vila: Niyagama, Galle Pol-gaha-vila: Baddegama, Galle; Welivitiya-Divithura, Galle Madde-vila: Weliviltiya-Divithura, Galle Dōman-vila: Ambalangoda, Galle. Dōma: Dōṁba: a tree (Sinhala, Sorata) Eraṇa-vila: Ambalangoda, Galle Doḍam-kaha-vila: Gonapeenuwala, Galle Toṭa-vila: Hikkaduwa, Galle Baṭagan-vila: Galle Four Gravets, Galle Kẹran-vila: Bope-poddala, Galle; Akmeemana, Galle Aṁba-gaha-vila: Akmeemana, Galle Māna-vila: Akmeemana, Galle Am-pā-vila: Imaduwa, Galle Ińdurannā-vila: Imaduwa, Galle Maha-potu-vila: Pitabeddara, Matara Vila-gama: Akuressa, Matara Kẹṭan-vila: Akuressa, Matara Telijja-vila: Malimbada, Matara; Telijja: Teli-diya: "Tal, kitul ādiyēn upatanā mīrā" (Sinhala, Sorata); sweet toddy (Sinhala, Clough); Teḷi: (verb) to become clear, limpid as water by the settling of sediment (Tamil, DED 3433); Tiḷi: clear serum-like substance (Kannada, DED 3433); transparent, clear, distilled (Tulu, DED 3433); Tēṟal: clarified toddy, clarified juice (Tamil, DED 3471) Koṭa-vila: Weligama, Matara Tal-pā-vila: Matara Four Gravets, Matara Vīra-vila: Lunugamvehera, Hambantota Uḍu-vila: Thissamaharama, Hambantota; Dehiovita, Kegalle Nẹdi-gam-vila: Thissamaharama, Hambantota Siyaṁbalā-gas-vila: Hambantota, Hambantota Mirijja-vila: Hambantota, Hambantota. Mirijja: Miri-diya: "Kivulrasa nẹti jalaya" (Sinhala, Sorata) Bẹmiṇiyan-vila: Ambalantota, Hambantota Vẹli-paṭan-vila: Ambalantota, Hambantota Tavāḷu-vila: Ambalantota, Hambantota. Tavalu: small tank, "Kudāvẹva"; worksite at the front of a tank, "Vẹvaka ihaḷa vagā karaṇa koṭasa" (Sinhala, Sorata) Uḍu-kiri-vila: Weeraketiya, Hambantota Paňgam-vila-yāya: Katuwana, Hambantota Uḍu-vila-goḍa: Tangalle, Hambantota Sēru-vila: Seruwila, Trincomalee Kahaṭa-vila: Panduwasnuwara, Kurunegala; Dankotuwa, Puttalam Dora-bā-vila: Panduwasnuwara West, Kurunegala Karańda-vila: Udubaddawa, Kurunegala Huṇu-vila: Pannala, Kurunegala Eli-vila: Pannala, Kurunegala Mẹdiri-vila: Pannala, Kurunegala Para-bẹ-vila: Polgahawela, Kurunegala Tala-vila: Talai-villu: Kalpitti, Puttalam; Vilpaṟṟu Ańguṇa-vila: Munthal, Puttalam Nāga-vila: Pallama, Puttalam Suru-vila: Arachchikattuwa, Puttalam Kokkā-vila: Kokku-vil: Chilaw, Puttalam Aṁba-kańda-vila: Chilaw, Puttalam Ińdi-gas-vila: Madampe, Puttalam Erun-vila: Madampe, Puttalam Iraṇa-vila: Mahawewa, Puttalam Muṭṭi-bẹńdi-vila: Mahawewa, Puttalam Hāl-pan-vila: Mahawewa, Puttalam Tal-vila: Mahawewa, Puttalam Māra-vila: Mahawewa, Puttalam Mā-vila: Nattandiya, Puttalam Nārā-vila: Nattandiya, Puttalam Lunu-vila: Wennapuwa, Puttalam Taṁbara-vila: Wennapuwa, Puttalam Gōna-vila: Dankotuwa, Puttalam Neḷum-vila: Mahawilachchiya, Anuradhapura; Thamankaduwa, Polonnaruwa Ran-pat-vila: Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura Kaha-pat-vila-gama: Mihinthale, Anuradhapura Kaḷu-vila: Nachchaduwa, Anuradhapura Turu-vila: Nachchaduwa, Anuradhapura, Huṇu-vila-gama: Nochchiyagama, Anuradhapura Barā-vila: Kekirawa, Anuradhapura Hori-vila: Palugaswewa, Anuradhapura Kara-vila-gama: Palagala, Anuradhapura Suňgā-vila: Lankapura, Polonnaruwa Kaṭu-van-vila: Welikanda, Polonnaruwa Mal-vila: Welikanda, Polonnaruwa Arala-gaň-vila: Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa Koho-vila: Soranathota, Badulla Vila-oya: Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala Gẹḍa-vila: Badalkuṁbura, Moneragala Kara-vila: Badalkumbura, Moneragala Māligā-vila: Buttala, Moneragala Taṇa-mal-vila: The pond of the grass hill; Thanamalvila, Moneragala Vilāna: (Sinhala: Vil+āna) Daň-vilāna: Daň+vil+āna: Attanagalla, Gampaha Vilāna: Vil+āna: Akurana, Kandy Vilā: (Sinhala) Vilā-kaṭu-pota: Wariyapola, Kurunegala Vilava: (Sinhala: Vila+va) Vilava: Maho, Kurunegala Note the dense distribution of vil ponds in a small area of Vilpattu forest. The dried up vil beds can be seen as circular brown patches and note the pools of water at the centre of them. [Google Map]
Revised: Tuesday, 15 November 2016, 18:36 First published: Friday, 22 June 2007, 01:00
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