Iwanai, Shiribeshi region, Hokkaidō
刀掛岩
かたなかけいわ Etok-us-sirpaThe rock carries a Benkei legend: Yoshitsune's retainer is said to have leant his sword against it while fishing.
Ainu spellings: Etok-us-sirpa, Etu-ko-us-sirpa, Si-etok-us-sirpa
Analyses
etu-ko-us-sirpa
エトゥコウㇱシㇼパ
cape with a nose attached to it
- etu nose
- ko to it
- us be attached
- sirpa cape
Proponent: 榊原正文
The Ainu name of the rock is given as エトクシシリパ and read this way.
Objections
- Using the prefix ko- this way calls for one more object than the reading supplies. — zenibako_trek zenibako_trek2023
etok-us-sirpa
エトクㇱシㇼパ
cape with a protruding head attached
Proponent: zenibako_trek（小樽銭函地名歴史研究会） (zenibako_trek (Otaru Zenibako Place-Name and History Society))
etok is preferred to etu: e-tok gives 'with a head jutting out', which suits the rock at the point without needing an extra object. The reading refers to the sword-rest rock itself.
Variants
- si-etok-us-sirpa ‘cape with a truly protruding head’ — Offered with a hedge for the spellings that begin with セ, セトクウンシレハ in 今井図 and セトコウシシレハ in 松浦図.
Attestations
- カタナカケト云フ map Tenpō era 今井八九郎図
The Japanese name is already on the map in the Tenpō years; the cape was also called Katanakake-misaki.
- セトクウンシレハ map Edo period 今井測量原図
- セトコウシシレハ map Edo period 東西蝦夷山川地理取調図
Sources
- 雷電海岸の地名と由来 ～ライデン地名考～
zenibako_trek·2023-10-13
- アイヌ語沙流方言辞典
田村, すず子·1996