12 



ON THE ORIGIN OF 



word which si ngifies the womb, and its derivative noun 'peR-u, 3, 

 means a thing obtained, a birth, a favour."* 



vi. Kulambu, ' clay, loom;' kolu, 6 a plough share * Tamil — are 

 exhibited as showing a resemblance to kumbur, 'a paddy field' in 

 the Sinhalese. The relation between the two sets of words is more 

 imaginary than real. The Sinhalese, words for 6 clay' and ' plough ' 

 are quite different, and have no reference whatever to a field. The 

 word kumbur is supposed to be derived from the Sanskrit kumb ' to 

 cover/ hence kumbha in Pali is 'an amunam in extent,' generally 

 referring to the sowing-extent of a field; and thence we get kumbur a, 

 Sinhalese, 'a field.' My pandit, however, believes that this is 

 derived from the Pali kedara. 



vii. Koliyan, 6 a weaver of the Pariah Caste,' kolairur, ■ ' hunts- 

 men,' in Tamil, are compared with the Sinhalese kollaya, ' plunder,' 

 Philologically or historically, there is no relation between these words. 

 The Sinhalese word is clearly derived from the Pali kola-hala % 

 ' tumult,' with which plunder is ever associated in one's mind. 



viii. Torravu, ' a herd of cows,' totti, ' a pound ' in Tamil — are 

 set against the Sinhalese tavalam, 'a flock or herd,' The Sinha- 

 lese never use this word simply to indicate ' a flock;' — the sense in 

 which they do use it being to denote cattle employed to convey 

 goods; which, it is remarkable, are placed on either side of the ani- 

 mal's back, so that the two loads may balance equally. Now, taula 

 in the Sanskrit is 'a balance.' 



ix. Atam ' across,' adkam ' enclosing, hiding,' adam ' hindrance,' 

 Tamil — are shown as related to the Sinhalese adaya, ' prop,' and 

 adassiya, 'obstruction;' but ade or adaya is strictly that which is 

 kept under an object in order to prop it up. In this sense it comes 

 from the Pali adho, 'under;* whence adassi may be something that 

 obstructs the assa (ansa) or 4 side ' [inside.] 



x. Kurrai, ' defect,' Tamil ;=koradus y 'unripe grain/f — Sinha-* 

 lese. It is here only necessary to refer the reader to the Sanskrit 



* Caldwell's Comp. Grammar, p. 40. 



t It do.es not mean 4 unripe grain j' but is a proper name k in the Sinhalese,. a$ 



