The commonly accepted root of the English word 'Navy' is Latin 'navia'(ship).
Its quite interesting to note that the Latin word 'navia' relates directly to the Tamil word 'navai' pronounced 'naavaay'. This Tamil word 'navai' is derived from its Tamil root 'nai'. 'Navai' means the lead-ship in a fleet of ships going for naval warfare. 'Nai' in Tamil means 'to lead'. Since the dog always leads its master by moving in front, it is called 'Nai' in Tamil. The lead character in a film or drama is called 'Nayagan'. Similarly lead warriors fighting in war were called 'Naiks, Naickers, Nairs, Naidus etc. So, it appears that Tamil word 'navai' is related to Latin word 'navia' directly.
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A little of historical background may help to clear this area. The Greeks and Romans were well known to Tamils during the BC era. Apart from extensive literary references, archaeological finds of Roman gold coins at Kalaiyamputhur in Tamil Nadu State of India attests to this fact. The Greeks/Romans were referred to by a common term ‘Yavanars’in Tamil. Since these travelers commenced their voyages from the Ionian Sea, they were named ‘Ionavars’in Tamil. The etymology goes like this Ionia>Ionavar>Yavanar. In those days foreign traders camped for months in South Indian coasts for trade purposes, developed matrimonial links and mixed with the local populace freely. References of Greeks guarding the fort of Madurai town is also available, in Tamil texts. Thus the interaction was not for short periods and was not limited to trade purposes only. Tamils were a sea-faring people which took them as far as Java, Sumatra, Singapore etc, Chola King Rajendra had a powerful navy with which he conquered Java,Ceylon etc.
Dr. Daniela has suggested ‘If the Latin word for ship is related to Tamil, there should be evidence for contact between the Romans and Tamil speakers. As far as I am aware, Latin navis (singular) and Greek naus (singular) are both related to Sanskrit nauh. Is the Tamil word perhaps a borrowing from Sanskrit?’’
I believe that my foregoing observations on trade contacts between the Romans and Tamil speakers would have clarified this doubt. Moreover Sanskrit was never a spoken language and the prevailing religion prohibited sea-faring under a penalty. However, for the Tamils, sea-faring was a way of life as attested by the Tamil proverb ”Thirai kadal odi thiraviam thedu” which means ”Cross the seas and seek the treasures”
Following are some of the other related Tamil words available.
1 Kappal – ship
2 Thoni- A kind of boat
3 Padagu- Hollowed boat use by fisherman
4 Parisal- round boat
5 Kattumaram- Catamaran
6 Theppam-float (The same word is used in Telugu too to mean float, ie. theeladam)
So the Sanskrit word ‘nauh’ could have been derived from Tamil ‘navai’ only.
Conclusion: The Latin word ‘navia’ is a morpheme and cannot be broken down further as the Tamil ‘navai’ which is derived from morpheme ‘nai’ (to lead). The English word ‘navigate’ derived from Latin ’navia’ clearly takes this meaning ie, ’to lead’. The absence of any other word in Latin connected with ‘navia’ indicating link with ‘ship’, leads us to believe that this Latin word most probably means ‘to lead’ as I assumed.
So in this circumstances the etymology as suggested appears more probable and acceptable than the available Etymology, which is not clear and quite uncertain as well.
Its quite interesting to note that the Latin word 'navia' relates directly to the Tamil word 'navai' pronounced 'naavaay'. This Tamil word 'navai' is derived from its Tamil root 'nai'. 'Navai' means the lead-ship in a fleet of ships going for naval warfare. 'Nai' in Tamil means 'to lead'. Since the dog always leads its master by moving in front, it is called 'Nai' in Tamil. The lead character in a film or drama is called 'Nayagan'. Similarly lead warriors fighting in war were called 'Naiks, Naickers, Nairs, Naidus etc. So, it appears that Tamil word 'navai' is related to Latin word 'navia' directly.
=============================================================
A little of historical background may help to clear this area. The Greeks and Romans were well known to Tamils during the BC era. Apart from extensive literary references, archaeological finds of Roman gold coins at Kalaiyamputhur in Tamil Nadu State of India attests to this fact. The Greeks/Romans were referred to by a common term ‘Yavanars’in Tamil. Since these travelers commenced their voyages from the Ionian Sea, they were named ‘Ionavars’in Tamil. The etymology goes like this Ionia>Ionavar>Yavanar. In those days foreign traders camped for months in South Indian coasts for trade purposes, developed matrimonial links and mixed with the local populace freely. References of Greeks guarding the fort of Madurai town is also available, in Tamil texts. Thus the interaction was not for short periods and was not limited to trade purposes only. Tamils were a sea-faring people which took them as far as Java, Sumatra, Singapore etc, Chola King Rajendra had a powerful navy with which he conquered Java,Ceylon etc.
Dr. Daniela has suggested ‘If the Latin word for ship is related to Tamil, there should be evidence for contact between the Romans and Tamil speakers. As far as I am aware, Latin navis (singular) and Greek naus (singular) are both related to Sanskrit nauh. Is the Tamil word perhaps a borrowing from Sanskrit?’’
I believe that my foregoing observations on trade contacts between the Romans and Tamil speakers would have clarified this doubt. Moreover Sanskrit was never a spoken language and the prevailing religion prohibited sea-faring under a penalty. However, for the Tamils, sea-faring was a way of life as attested by the Tamil proverb ”Thirai kadal odi thiraviam thedu” which means ”Cross the seas and seek the treasures”
Following are some of the other related Tamil words available.
1 Kappal – ship
2 Thoni- A kind of boat
3 Padagu- Hollowed boat use by fisherman
4 Parisal- round boat
5 Kattumaram- Catamaran
6 Theppam-float (The same word is used in Telugu too to mean float, ie. theeladam)
So the Sanskrit word ‘nauh’ could have been derived from Tamil ‘navai’ only.
Conclusion: The Latin word ‘navia’ is a morpheme and cannot be broken down further as the Tamil ‘navai’ which is derived from morpheme ‘nai’ (to lead). The English word ‘navigate’ derived from Latin ’navia’ clearly takes this meaning ie, ’to lead’. The absence of any other word in Latin connected with ‘navia’ indicating link with ‘ship’, leads us to believe that this Latin word most probably means ‘to lead’ as I assumed.
So in this circumstances the etymology as suggested appears more probable and acceptable than the available Etymology, which is not clear and quite uncertain as well.
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