Ainu Morpheme Explorer
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Hokkaidō

江別

えべつ Ebetsu

The map point identifies present-day Ebetsu; Batchelor’s entry does not delimit the historical river referent.

Ainu spellings: E-pet

Analyses

E-pet

proposed

Humour river

Proponent: John Batchelor

His explanation refers to the dirty colour of the water. “Humour” is used in its fluid sense.

Batchelor1905 § V "Place Names Considered", p. 39, s.v. Ebetsu
Analysis details
Confidence: low

The short entry gives a colour analogy but no lexical evidence for e in this sense or earlier river forms.

Attestations

  • Ebetsu dictionary 1905 An Ainu-English-Japanese Dictionary, 2nd edition
    “Humour river.” So called because of the dirty colour of the water.

    The entry gives Batchelor’s analytical spelling and interpretation.

    Batchelor1905 § V "Place Names Considered", p. 39, s.v. Ebetsu

Sources