Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t1.37

c28.s6.t1.37

**a. *kaṭal-aṉ* (*kaṭalaṉ*)** (N.) Cf. LT *kaṭalaṉ*, the chieftain of Viḷaṅkil (*Aka.* 81:13). The name was also borne by one of the Caṅkam poets (author, *Aka.* 72, etc.). This is an appellative noun derived from *kaṭal* 'sea' (D. 1118) with the addition of the PNG suffix *-aṉ* in free form. Kaṭalar are described as the people of the *neytal* (maritime) tract (*Tivā.* 300; *Piṅkala.* 600; *Cūṭā.* 2:72).