Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest Eswatini or Swaziland cities.
Nhlangano is a name meaning 'meeting place'.
Piggs Peak is named after William Pigg, who discovered a gold reef here in March 1884.
Bulembu is named from the siSwati word for 'spider's web'. I don't care why, it's a fabulous idea.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Showing posts with label reef. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reef. Show all posts
Saturday, 25 April 2020
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Palau Place Names Explained
Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the a few of Palau's names.
Ngerchoki was held to be where the waters of youth could be found, Jumping in the waters would result in one looking many years younger. But don't bother going today as the waters have lost their powers ever since a woman and her child came along to drink the water. However it was a hot day and she jumped in with the expected result. Unfortunately her child no longer recognised her and cried until she jumped back in and reversed the process. Since then the waters have proven useful only as water.
Kabekel is also the name of a war canoe.
Ngiwal is named for being the stomach of Uab, hence the people have very big appetites and in particular the local dish of soup, pumpkin, rice and coconut milk.
Koror was known as Los Arrecifes by the Spanish, it simply means 'the reefs'.
Helen Island was first charted by the Spanish naval officer Felipe Tompson, who referred to it as the San Felix shoal.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Ngerchoki was held to be where the waters of youth could be found, Jumping in the waters would result in one looking many years younger. But don't bother going today as the waters have lost their powers ever since a woman and her child came along to drink the water. However it was a hot day and she jumped in with the expected result. Unfortunately her child no longer recognised her and cried until she jumped back in and reversed the process. Since then the waters have proven useful only as water.
Kabekel is also the name of a war canoe.
Ngiwal is named for being the stomach of Uab, hence the people have very big appetites and in particular the local dish of soup, pumpkin, rice and coconut milk.
Koror was known as Los Arrecifes by the Spanish, it simply means 'the reefs'.
Helen Island was first charted by the Spanish naval officer Felipe Tompson, who referred to it as the San Felix shoal.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Monday, 13 May 2019
Marshall Islands Place Names Explained
Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest settlements of the Marshall Islands.
Ujeland or Wujlan is from Marshallese wuj lan meaning 'the rough or cloudy sky'.
Ebeye is an island where the first Christian missionaries to visit the Marshall Islands first settled. Oriiginally they wrote the name as Ebeje although correctly should have been more like Ebje and is said to mean 'making something out of nothing' and a reference to how difficult it is to eke out a living here.
Laura is not just a female name, we know the very female after whom it is named. Indeed, the town was named by American GIs stationed here in the Second World War after actress Lauren Bacall. Oddly it was also referred to as Rita, after actress Rita Hayworth, which probably indicates a preference for looks rather than anything else.
Jemo or Jamo features the element mo meaning 'taboo'.
Ailinglaplap is the name given to an atoll which is where the greatest legends of the Marshallese people are invariably located. Hence the name from aelon laplap means 'the greatest atoll' and refers to the legends and not size or population.
Arno is a coral atoll enclosing a lagoon, it is derived from the local tongue and means 'no wave'.
Ebon is the name given to an atoll which is thought to refer to 'their Ebon' and a reference to a people of darker skins who possibly inhabited this place.
Jebat simply refers to itself as 'the hill'.
Jalwoj comes from a local term meaning 'facing beauty' and it's hard to disagree with this descrption of any of the Marshall Islands.
Kole gets its name from the local description of the 'gravel surface'.
Kuwajleen comes from Marshallese waj leen or 'to you its fruit'. This is also told in a legend speaking a typhoon which hit here destroying all the fruit and leaving only flowers, it was these flowers they took to their chief as a tribute.
Lae simply translates as 'calm water'.
Lib or Ellep Island comes from Marshallese el lap or 'big nest'.
Likiep Atoll takes its name from iep or 'basket'.
Majuro or Majro comes from maj ruo or 'two openings' and an apt description of the lagoon.
Maloelap is from malew yelap, Marshallese for 'big lagoon'.
Mejit or Majej represents the Marshallese maj ej 'eastern opening'.
Namdrik or Namdik is from nam dik which is either 'small lagoon' or perhaps 'secondary lagoon'.
Utirik or Utrek is from Marshallese ut rok or 'southern flower'.
Wotho is disputed and, depending on who is asked, could refer to 'the entrance through the reef' or 'island far away'.
Wotje or Wojja is from jejaak which translates delightfully as 'land on which one can overheat'.
Ailing or Aelonin is from aelon ae or 'island of current', a warning of what to expect at sea.
Bikar or Pikaar comes from Marshallese pik ar or 'fly lagoonward'.
Bikini, probably the most famous name of all, should actually be Pikinni and from pik ni meaning 'surface of coconuts'.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Ujeland or Wujlan is from Marshallese wuj lan meaning 'the rough or cloudy sky'.
Ebeye is an island where the first Christian missionaries to visit the Marshall Islands first settled. Oriiginally they wrote the name as Ebeje although correctly should have been more like Ebje and is said to mean 'making something out of nothing' and a reference to how difficult it is to eke out a living here.
Laura is not just a female name, we know the very female after whom it is named. Indeed, the town was named by American GIs stationed here in the Second World War after actress Lauren Bacall. Oddly it was also referred to as Rita, after actress Rita Hayworth, which probably indicates a preference for looks rather than anything else.
Jemo or Jamo features the element mo meaning 'taboo'.
Ailinglaplap is the name given to an atoll which is where the greatest legends of the Marshallese people are invariably located. Hence the name from aelon laplap means 'the greatest atoll' and refers to the legends and not size or population.
Arno is a coral atoll enclosing a lagoon, it is derived from the local tongue and means 'no wave'.
Ebon is the name given to an atoll which is thought to refer to 'their Ebon' and a reference to a people of darker skins who possibly inhabited this place.
Jebat simply refers to itself as 'the hill'.
Jalwoj comes from a local term meaning 'facing beauty' and it's hard to disagree with this descrption of any of the Marshall Islands.
Kole gets its name from the local description of the 'gravel surface'.
Kuwajleen comes from Marshallese waj leen or 'to you its fruit'. This is also told in a legend speaking a typhoon which hit here destroying all the fruit and leaving only flowers, it was these flowers they took to their chief as a tribute.
Lae simply translates as 'calm water'.
Lib or Ellep Island comes from Marshallese el lap or 'big nest'.
Likiep Atoll takes its name from iep or 'basket'.
Majuro or Majro comes from maj ruo or 'two openings' and an apt description of the lagoon.
Maloelap is from malew yelap, Marshallese for 'big lagoon'.
Mejit or Majej represents the Marshallese maj ej 'eastern opening'.
Namdrik or Namdik is from nam dik which is either 'small lagoon' or perhaps 'secondary lagoon'.
Utirik or Utrek is from Marshallese ut rok or 'southern flower'.
Wotho is disputed and, depending on who is asked, could refer to 'the entrance through the reef' or 'island far away'.
Wotje or Wojja is from jejaak which translates delightfully as 'land on which one can overheat'.
Ailing or Aelonin is from aelon ae or 'island of current', a warning of what to expect at sea.
Bikar or Pikaar comes from Marshallese pik ar or 'fly lagoonward'.
Bikini, probably the most famous name of all, should actually be Pikinni and from pik ni meaning 'surface of coconuts'.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Sunday, 31 March 2019
Madagascar Place Names Explained
Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest Madagascan settlements.
Antananarivo, the capital, was founded in the early 17th century when Merina King Andrianjaka defeated and expelled the Vazimba people of what was then known as Analamanga. Tradition has it that he depolyed a thousand soldiers to capture and then guard the place. Then, some fifty years later, it was during the reign of King Andriamasinavalona the place took its present name which refers to 'the city of a thousand' to honour those soldiers.
Toamasina means 'like salt' or perhaps 'salty'. Situated on the coast and protected by a coral reef, this produces increased salinity through evaporation and hence the name.
Antsirabe is a Malagasy name and, as with the previous name, means 'the plae of much salt'. However here the reference is to the brine springs in the area as Antsirabe is about as far from the coast as it is possible to get.
Fianarantsoa is a cultural and intellectual centre for the entire island nation and fully merits its meaning of 'good education'.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Antananarivo, the capital, was founded in the early 17th century when Merina King Andrianjaka defeated and expelled the Vazimba people of what was then known as Analamanga. Tradition has it that he depolyed a thousand soldiers to capture and then guard the place. Then, some fifty years later, it was during the reign of King Andriamasinavalona the place took its present name which refers to 'the city of a thousand' to honour those soldiers.
Toamasina means 'like salt' or perhaps 'salty'. Situated on the coast and protected by a coral reef, this produces increased salinity through evaporation and hence the name.
Antsirabe is a Malagasy name and, as with the previous name, means 'the plae of much salt'. However here the reference is to the brine springs in the area as Antsirabe is about as far from the coast as it is possible to get.
Fianarantsoa is a cultural and intellectual centre for the entire island nation and fully merits its meaning of 'good education'.
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Dominica Place Names Explained
Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time to cast my net a little wider. This time Dominica and a look at some of its largest settlements, there are no cities on this island, and most interesting names.
Salisbury takes the name of the British politician Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who served as prime minister for three terms over a period of thirteen years. The local Creole name for the town is Barroui - pronounced bah wee.
Grand Bay and its alternative English name of South City need no explanation. The village's local name is Berekua or Berricoa.
Calibishie gets its name from the native Arawakan language spoken by the Kalinagos people later known as the Caribs. In this language cali means 'net' and bishie 'reef' and thus describes 'the reef of nets' and gives some indication of how the people gathered protein from the sea to supplement vegetable matter from the forest, the latter also providing building materials.
Wesley, during the 1860s Wesleyville, was named for the Wesleyan missionaries who settled here.
Roseau is the capital and is named after the Roseau River, itself named by the French in the 16th or 17th century for the 'reeds' growing along its backs.
Delices is from the French word delices 'delights' or perhaps better seen as delice 'a delightful thing'.
Massacre is an ominous a name as it appears, this the massacre of the Carib locals by Europeans in 1674.
Paix Bouche is derived from the local Creole language, quite literally this means 'shut your mouth'.
Petite Savanne is from the French for 'little savannah'.
Scott's Head is named after Colonel George Scott, who helped the British secure Dominica from the French and later became lieutenant governor of the island for three years from 1764.
Vielle Case is a local French name meaning 'old house'.
La Vie Douce is a farming area aptly named as this means 'the sweet life'.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
Salisbury takes the name of the British politician Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who served as prime minister for three terms over a period of thirteen years. The local Creole name for the town is Barroui - pronounced bah wee.
Grand Bay and its alternative English name of South City need no explanation. The village's local name is Berekua or Berricoa.
Calibishie gets its name from the native Arawakan language spoken by the Kalinagos people later known as the Caribs. In this language cali means 'net' and bishie 'reef' and thus describes 'the reef of nets' and gives some indication of how the people gathered protein from the sea to supplement vegetable matter from the forest, the latter also providing building materials.
Wesley, during the 1860s Wesleyville, was named for the Wesleyan missionaries who settled here.
Roseau is the capital and is named after the Roseau River, itself named by the French in the 16th or 17th century for the 'reeds' growing along its backs.
Delices is from the French word delices 'delights' or perhaps better seen as delice 'a delightful thing'.
Massacre is an ominous a name as it appears, this the massacre of the Carib locals by Europeans in 1674.
Paix Bouche is derived from the local Creole language, quite literally this means 'shut your mouth'.
Petite Savanne is from the French for 'little savannah'.
Scott's Head is named after Colonel George Scott, who helped the British secure Dominica from the French and later became lieutenant governor of the island for three years from 1764.
Vielle Case is a local French name meaning 'old house'.
La Vie Douce is a farming area aptly named as this means 'the sweet life'.
Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.
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