Ainu Morpheme Explorer
← Place names

Biratori, Hidaka region, Hokkaidō

白鵜

しらう Shirau

The Shirau of Biratori and the Shiraoi of Iburi carry the same first element and the article reads both the same way.

Ainu spellings: Sir-aw, Siraw

Analyses

siraw

シラウ

received reading

horsefly

Proponent: 定説

Objections

  • The author reads the name as a ridge name, as at Shiraoi. — zenibako_trek zenibako_trek2025
zenibako_trek2025 「白鵜（しらう）」
Analysis details
Confidence: low

siraw 'horsefly' is a dictionary word; whether an insect name heads the place name is the point at issue, as at Shiraoi.

sir-aw

シラウ

proposed

branch of the ridge

Proponent: zenibako_trek（小樽銭函地名歴史研究会） (zenibako_trek (Otaru Zenibako Place-Name and History Society))

The same reading the author gives to Shiraoi, where sir-aw-o-i names ground with many ridge spurs. A hill called the Shirau hill stands there.

zenibako_trek2025 「白鵜（しらう）」
Analysis details
Confidence: low

sir is a dictionary word for land or mountain, while the sense 'branch' for aw is the author's, and the Saru dialect dictionary lists aw as a root for a horn, for the inside of a house, for squid and for the neighbouring house.

Sources