Know the Etymology: 25
Place Name of the Day: Sunday, 11 December 2016

Gal-oya, Kaḷu-gal-oya, Badulu-oya, Kiṁbul-vānā-oya

க₃ல்-ஒய, களுக₃ல்-ஒய, ப₃து₃லு-ஒய, கிம்பு₃ல்வானா-ஒய
Gal-oya, Kaḷu-gal-oya, Badulu-oya, Kiṁbul-vānā-oya

Gal+oya
Kaḷu+gal+oya
Badulu+oya
Kiṁbul+vānā+oya

The rocky stream

The stream of the granite rocks

The stream running through Badulu trees

The tawny-coloured stream; or the stream of the Kiṁbul-plant forest

Oya	(singular), Oyaval: (plural) rivulet, stream (Sinhala, Clough); Oya: "Gańga, Diya-pāra" (Sinhala, Sorata); Hoya, Hō: small river, branch of a river, rivulet (Sinhala, Clough); H added in this case; Ho, Hō: = "Oya, Gańga" (Sinhala, Sorata); Hoya: "Gańga, Atugaṅgā ek vū tẹna" (Sinhala, Sorata); Hoyala: sandy or alluvial deposits of a river, sandy bank; "Gańga diyen gẹṇena ladda, Vẹlla, Veraḷa" (Sinhala, Sorata, Clough); Ō-kaḍa: water course, mouth of a river, "Diya-pāra, Mōdara" (Sinhala, Sorata); Oi: current in the sea, flow, flux, stream, tide (Dhivehi/ Maldivian, DBF); Oyil: force or velocity of a river (Tulu, DED 984); Oyilu: current, usually of a stream or river (Tulu, M. Bhat); Oiyali: (verb) to take away (Kuwi, DED 984); Oye: (verb) to take away (Malto, DED 984); Oy: (verb) to drag along as a flood, launch as a boat, send forth (Tamil, DED 984); (verb) to flow fast, drag fast; a term meaning to be swift (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Akanāṉūṟu 68: 17; Kuṟuntokai 79: 3-5); (verb) to carry off (Kannada, DED 984); Uy: (verb) to carry, take away, discharge (Tamil, DED 984); to carry off (Kannada, DED 984); to carry, to take away (Parji, Gadba, DED 984); Uyavai: forest stream (Tamil, Tivākaram, 5: 48; Cūṭāmaṇi, 11: 160); a creeper in the forest that yields water (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Malaipaṭukaṭām 136)
Kaḷugal	common black granite (Sinhala, Clough); from Kaḷu+gal: black coloured stone, "Kaḷupẹhẹti gal" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kaḷu: black, blue (Sinhala, Clough); Kāla: black, dark blue (Sanskrit, Dravidian etymology cited, CDIAL 3083); kāḷa: black, dark (Pali, CDIAL 3083); Kaṟu: black (Tamil, DED 1278, cognates in 13 Dravidian languages, note the Ṟ/ Ḷ change); Kaṟu: (verb) to grow black, darken (Tamil, DED 1395); Kāḻ: blackness (Tamil, DED 1494); Kāḷu: (verb) to burn, be burnt, scorched (Telugu, DED 1500); Kāḷuka: to burn (Malayalam, DED 1500); Gal: stone, rock (Sinhala, corresponding to Kal in Tamil/ Dravidian, DED 1298, see other columns); Karuṅ-kal: granite (Tamil); Karṅgal: rock (Kota, DED 1278)
Badulu	also Badulu-ruk, Badulla: the marking nut tree, Semicarpus gardneri, or Semecarpus anacardium, of Anacadiaceæ genus, of which there are 13 species peculiar to the island (Sinhala, Clough); Cēr, Ceṅ-koṭṭai, Cē-pālam in Tamil (DED 2005), and Bhallāta in Sanskrit (CDIAL 9414); the nut was used by launderers to put identity marks on clothes; the Sinhala term might have come from Badu meaning taking possession on contract
Kiṁbulvānā	1. Probably Kiṁbul-van, Kiṁbul: tawny colour (Sinhala, Clough); tawny (reddish brown) or compound of red and black, "Pińguvanpẹhẹya hō Duṁburupẹhẹya" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kempu: redness (Kannada, Tulu, Telugu, DED 1931); Cempu: copper (Tamil, DED 2775); Cē, Cem: redness (Tamil, DED 1931, cognates in 13 Dravidian languages including Brahui); Van: colour (Sinhala, Clough); Varṇa: appearance, colour (Sanskrit, CDIAL 11338); Vanai: (verb) to paint, to form (Tamil, DED 5327); 2. Probably, Kiṁbul-vāna: Kiṁbul plant forest; Kiṁbul: an herb, Plumbago rosea (Sinhala, Clough); its flowers are reddish; Vāna: forest, either from Vana or from Valāna > Vāna; see related place names for the relevance of the plant meaning in some place names; 3. Kiṁbul also means crocodile in Sinhala. Related to Kumbhīra in Sanskrit (CDIAL 3317) and Kimpuri in old Tamil (Neṭunalvāṭai 96-97)

Oya is a common word in Sinhala, meaning a rivulet or stream. But it also comes in the names of some major rivers of the island (see related place names).

Hoya, Ho and Hō are variations of Oya, and in these cases H is added in front of O. Another related term in Sinhala is Ō-kada.

Oi in Dhivehi/ Maldivian, Oyil/ Oyilu in Tulu and Uyavai in old Tamil, meaning a current of stream and forest stream, are the closest noun cognates of Oya.

The verb cognates, Oy, Uy, Oye and Oiyali, listed as Dravidian, could be seen in Tamil, Kannada, Kuwi, Malto, Parji and Gadba (DED 984).

A perusal of the verbs would show that the etymological origin of Oya is related to fast flow and carry off of a stream (see box).

A forest stream gained the term Uyavai in old Tamil, as sudden flood and fast carry off are typical of such a stream.

* * *

Oy as a verb in Tamil meaning to drag along as the current of a stream:

"கன்று கால் ஒய்யும் கடுஞ் சுழி நீத்தம்" (அகநானூறு 68:17)

"Kaṉṟu kāl oyyum kaṭuñ cuḻi nīttam" (Akanāṉūṟu 68: 17)

The strong whirl current of the (forest stream) flow was dragging the feet of the baby elephant. (The context is description of the current of a forest stream after a heavy rain. The current was dragging the feet of a baby elephant and the tusker and female elephants of the herd were probing their trunks to get a grip of the baby.)


Uyavai as forest stream:

"கலுழியும் உயவையும் முல்லைக் கான்யாறு" (பிங்கலம் 5: 48)

"Kaluḻiyum uyavaiyum mullaik Kāṉyāṟu" (Piṅkalam 5: 48)

Kaluḻi (one that rolls stones) and Uyavai (one that flows fast) mean forest stream of the Mullai (forest) tract of land

* * *

Gal-oya is found as a river name and place name in Hingurakgoda division of Polonnaruwa district and in Doluwa division of Kandy district. Gal-oya is also the name of a river that passes through Ampara district and enters the sea at Nintavūr. The river is called Kallāṟu in Tamil.

Kaḷu-gal-oya is the name of a stream as well as a place in Udadumbara division of Kandy district.

Badulu-oya is in Kandaketiya division of Badulla district.

Kiṁbul-vānā-oya is in Ibbagamuwa division of Kurunegala district.

* * *

Some related place names:

Oya:

Ẹgal-oya: Bulathsinhala, Kalutara. Probably, Agal: moat, ditch

Hīl-oya: Medadumbara, Kandy; Ella, Badulla. Hīl: cold, frigid, "Sihil" (Sinhala, Sorata); Śiśira: cold (Sanskrit, CDIAL 12475)

Kuḍā-oya: Yatinuwara, Kandy; Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Geli-oya: Udunuwara, Kandy

Hal-oya: Doluwa, Kandy

Talātu-oya: Pathahewaheta, Kandy; Talāṭu: placed high, "Ustanhi siṭina, Goḍabima tibena" (Sorata)

Ińguru-oya: Pasbage Korale: Kandy

Bellannē-oya: Dambulla, Matale

Demada-oya: Pallepola, Matale. Probably, De-mẹda: "Deka atara" (Sorata)

Mā-oya: Laggala-Pallegala, Matale

Lēl-oya: Laggla-Pallegama, Matale. Lēlu: fish of the carp tribe found in mountain streams (Sinhala, Clough)

Kuṁbuk-oya: Wilgamuwa, Matale

Gẹṁburu-oya: Wilgamuwa, Matale. Gẹṁburu: (adjective) deep (Sinhala, Clough)

Nā-miṇi-oya: Wilgamuwa, Matale. Nā-miṇi: main gem, "Nāyaka-māṇikyaya" (Sorata)

Tavalaň-koya: Tavalam+oya: Ukuwela, Matale

Goraka-oya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Huṇu-gal-oya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Goṁburu-oya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya. See Gẹmburu-oya

Puńḍulu-oya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Darā-oya: Huaguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Mul-oya: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya. Mul: main, originating

Kuruńdu-oya: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Kuḍu-oya: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya. Kuḍu: any small thing; kuḍu-pāṭa: brown colour (Clough); Kuḍu-gal: a white powdery or soft stone (Sorata)

Nānu-oya: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya. Nānu: from Nāna: bathing; Snāna (Sanskrit, CDIAL 13789)

Vẹli-oya: Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya; Vẹli-oya (Maṇal-āṟu), Mullaittīvu

Dik-oya: Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya

Talā-piṭa-oya: Padiyathalawa, Ampara. The stream coming out of the high ground plain; Talā: high ground plain, "Us vū sama pedesa, Tẹnna, Goḍabima, Matupiṭa" (Sorata)

Maha-oya: Mahaoya, Ampara; a river flowing through Kurunegala and Gampaha districts

Nā-mal-oya: Ampara, Ampara

Ekgal-oya: Damana, Ampara; Madulla, Moneragala. The river is called Ekkal Āṟu in Tamil. Ekkal: sand cast ashore by rivers (Malayalam, DED 770); Ekku: (verb) to be heaped up as sand on the shore (Tamil, DED 770); Ekkal, Ekkar: sand heaped up on seashore or river bank (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, DED 770)

Pallan-oya: Damana, Ampara. Pallam: low place, valley, descent of a hill (Clough); Paḷḷam: lowness, low land, valley ditch, dimple (Tamil, DED 4016)

Aṁbalan-oya: Damana, Ampara

Battalu-oya: Arachchikattuwa, Puttalam

Sen-gal-oya: Arachikattuwa, Puttalam

Dẹduru-oya: Chilaw, Puttalam. Dẹduru: rumbling sound, splitting (Sinhala, Clough)

Ẹṭaṁba-oya: Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa. Ẹṭaṁba: wild mango (Clough)

Alut-oya: Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa

Radavige-oya: The stream of the laundress; Elahera, Polonnaruwa. Radavī: laundress (Sinhala, Clough); Gē: genitive case affix, Rajaka: washerman (Sanskrit, Pali, CDIAL 10575); from Rajata: silvery (Sanskrit, CDIAL 10576)

Kiri-oya: Elahera, Polonnaruwa

Pahaḷa-oya-gama: Rideemaliyadda, Badulla

Vela-oya: Kandaketiya, Badulla

Mā-kanda-oya: Madulla, Moneragala

Vila-oya: Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala

Ūva-kuḍā-oya: Wellwaya, Moneragala

Ẹt-oya: Ratnapura, Ratnapura. Ẹt: elephant, also "Ẹtuḷa, Antaya" (Sorata); Atu: branch (Sorata)

Beli-hul-oya: Imbulpe, Ratnapura

Mẹda-gaň-oya: Weligepola, Ratnapura

Hińgul-oya: Mawanella, Kegalla. Hińgul: a plant, Amoora rohituka (Clough); red chalk, "Suvan-guru" (Sorata); a reddish mineral, "Sādiliṅgam" (Sorata)

Kuṁbukkan-oya: Kuṁbuk-kan-oya; The river flanked by Kuṁbuk trees; This is a river that flows through Moneragala district and then serves as the boundary between Eastern and Southern Provinces

Kirindi-oya: A river in Moneragala and Hambabtota districts. Kirindi: a plant

Maduru-oya: A river flowing through Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa districts. Maduru: Matura tree: Batticaloa usage for Marutu (Terminalia arjuna, Tamil, DED 4718)

Yān-oya: A river flowing through Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts. Yān: going, travelling (Sinhala); Yāna: going, vehicle (Sanskrit, CDIAL 10459)

Mal-vatu-oya: The second longest river in the island, flowing through Anuradhapura and Mannar districts. It is called Aruvi-Āṟu in Mannar district.

Kaḷā-oya: A river flowing through Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts

Mī-oya: A river flowing through Kurunegala and Puttalam districts. Mī: honey, Mī tree

Mā-oya: A river originating in Anuradhapura district and bordering Trincomalee and Mullaiththeevu districts

* * *

Oya in prefix:

Oya-tẹnna: Udadumbara, Kandy

Oya-pahaḷa: Matale, Matale

Oyā-maḍuva: Mahawilachchiya, Anuradhapura

* * *

Ho:

Hō-kandara: Kaduwela, Colombo

Daḍa-hō-gama: Harispattuwa, Kandy

* * *

Ō-kaḍa:

Hitōkaḍa-vala: Hita+ō+kaḍa+vala: Maho, Kurunegala

* * *

Ō-toṭa:

Ō-toṭa-kōrale: a former administrative sub-division in Kurunegala district, Hiriyāla Hatpattu (Paranavitana, 1970, p. xv). Ō-toṭa: Oya-toṭa:

* * *

Kiṁbula:

Kiṁbulā-piṭiya: Katana, Gampaha

Kiṁbul-vila-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Kiṁbul-goḍa: Mahara, Gampaha

Kiṁbulā-vala: Niyagama, Galle; Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa

Ẹli-kiṁbulā-gala: Padaviya, Anuradhapura

Kiṁbulā-kaḍa: Nachchaduwa, Anuradhapura

Kiṁbulā-vela: Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala

* * *

Badulu/ Badulla:

Badulu-piṭiya: Badulla, Badulla

Badulu-vela: Madulla, Moneragala

Badulla: Badulla, Badulla

Badulla-gammana: Bibile, Moneragala

Badullē-gama: Weligepola, Ratnapura

* * *

Kaḷu-gal:

Kaḷu-gala: Palindunuwara, Kalutara; Udadumbara, Kandy; Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya; Palagala, Anuradhapura; Warakapola, Kegalle

Kalu-gala: Aranayaka, Kegalle

Kaḷu-gala-goḍa: Imaduwa, Galle

Kaḷu-gala-hēna: Kotapola, Matara

Kaḷu-gala-vatta: Pathadumbara, Kandy

Kaḷu-gal-hinna: Udapalatha, Kandy

Kaḷu-gal-tẹnna: Ambanganga Korale, Matale

Kaḷu-galla: Polpithigama, Kurunegala

Kalu-galla: Kegalle, Kegalle




Revised: Saturday, 10 December 2016, 23:25

First published: Saturday, 07 July 2007, 01:00