Know the Etymology: 323
Place Name of the Day: Sunday, 09 February 2014

Pinna-wala, Pinna-kele

பின்னவல
பின்னகெ[æ]லெ
Pinnavala, Pinnakaele

Pinna+wala
Pinna+kæle

The thicket or jungle of Pinna plants

Pinna	Also, Gas-pinna: Name of a medicinal plant, Clerodendron infortunatum (Sinhala); Perukilai, Karuk-ka'n'ni, Ve'l'laik-ka'n'ni: Clerodendrum infortunatum (Tamil, DED 4413, MTL); Peruku, Peruvila: Clerodendrum infortunatum (Malayalam, DED 4413); Vaathamadakki, Chi'ru-theakku: Beetle-killer, Clerodendrum serratum (Tamil, MTL).
Wala	Forest, jungle (Sinhala); Wal: Jungle, wood, thicket (Sinhala); Vallai: Extensive thicket, big forest (Tamil, DED 5289); Balle: Thick bush, Thick jungle (Kannada, DED 5289); A thicket, bush (Tulu, DED 5289).
Kælæ	(plural), Kælaya (singular): Jungle, thicket, wood (Sinhala); Kæla, Kæle: Multitude, wood, jungle (Sinhala); Kaal: Forest (Tamil, DED 1418); Stem, base of tree (Tamil, Malayalam, DED 1479); Kaa, Kaan, Kaanam, Kaanakam,Kaanal, Kaavam: Forest (Tamil, DED 1418); Kaanam: Jungle; Kaanal: Very dry jungle (Malayalam, DED 1418); Kaa: Forest (Kannada, DED 1418); Kaana: Forest (Tulu, Telugu, DED 1418); Kaadu: Forest, jungle (Tamil, 1438); Kaatu: Wilderness, wood, jungle (Malayalam DED 1438); Kaadu: Forest (Kannada, Tulu, Telugu, DED 1438).

Pinna in Sinhala is the name of a plant, much valued for its medicinal uses. It is also called Gas-pinna and the botanical name is Clerodendron infortunatum.

Perukilai and Peruvila are the common names for the same plant in Tamil and Malayalam respectively.

However, other names, Vaathamadakki and Chi'ru-theakku are also used in Tamil for a related species that is botanically termed as Clerodendron serratum.

Clerodendron serratum is just one of the plants known by the name Vaathamadakki (Vaatham-adakki, meaning that which subdues arthritis).

C. infortunatum and C. serratum are recognized mainly in the treatment of bronchitis and asthma, but they are also used in the treatment of rheumatic pains. An application of their leaf-juice mixed with oil is said to relieve the pain in a few hours. It is not uncommon to see people who suffer from arthritis growing the shrub in their house premises.

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The Sinhala components Wala and Kæle meaning a thicket, jungle, forest etc., are cognates of Vallai and Kaal in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 5289, 1418), meaning the same as in Sinhala. See earlier columns for etymological discussions.

Vallai meaning forest:

“Vallai utta veay” (Kamparaamaaya'nam, Ayoaththi, 9:42)

“வல்லை உற்ற வேய்” (கம்பராமாயணம், அயோத்தி, 9:42)

The bamboo in the forest


“Kaanam kada'ru kaan…vallai…kaadu enap pukalvar” (Pingkala nika'ndu 4:90)

“கானம் கடறு கான்…வல்லை…காடு எனப் புகல்வர்” (பிங்கல நிகண்டு 4:90)

It is said that Kaanam, Kada'ru, Kaan…Vallai…[some more synonyms are given] mean Kaadu (forest)


Kaal meaning forest:

“Kaal idam marak-kaal…vanam...panmoon'rea” (Choodaama'ni Nika'ndu 11: 225)

“கால் இடம் மரக்கால்…வனம்...பன்மூன்றே” (சூடாமணி நிகண்டு 11: 225)

[The word] Kaal has 13 meanings: place, stem of tree… forest…[etc]


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Pinna-wala as a place name is found in the following divisions: Padukka division, Colombo district; Rambukana division, Kegalle district and Impulpe division, Ratnapura district.

Pinna-kele is in Divulapitiya division of Gampaha district

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Some related place names:

Pinna-landa: The high ground low jungle of Pinna plants; Divulapitiya division, Gampaha district

Pinna-golla: The grove or forest having Pinna plants; Attanagalla division, Gampaha district; Pathahewahetta division, Kandy district; Rideemaliyadda division, Badulla district

Pinna-meda: Probably, the field or jungle or neighbourhood of Pinna plants; Mahara division, Gampaha district. Mada: field; Mædilla: jungle; Mædima: neighbourhood (Sinhala)

Pinna-goda: The hill, bank or village having Pinna plants; Agalawatta division, Kalutara district

Pinna-goda-kanda: The hill of the bank or village having Pinna plants; Warakapola division, Kegalle district

Pinna-doowa: The water surrounded area of Pinna plants; Akmeemana division, Galle district

Pinna-pole-gama: The village of the open space having Pinna plants; Nikaweratiya division, Kurunegala district

First published: Sunday, 09 February 2014, 10:43