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Künnapuu (Künnapuu)
Called European white or fluttering elm by the Brits and Russian elm by the Americans, Ulmus laevis. Interesting names! The first part comes from künnap (sinew, tendon, indicating its strength) and the Latin species name looks like a Latinized genitive of Estonian laev (ship). Appropriate, since its highly water-resistant timber has long been used for underwater piles, water pipes and ship-building. Sadly, it’s not. Despite Latinists rejecting the æ or ae in the word, botanists like it so there we are, and levis simply means ‘light’ or ‘smooth’, more the hairless variety, hence also youth and pallor, hence ‘white elm’.
Kuninga (Kuningas)
King. First recorded in 1434 as Koningstrate, with 2 main suggestions: 1. After 15th‑C local resident Lambert Koningesberch; and 2. From a then-common surname of Konink, which may also have been used as a word for ‘county elders’, generally referred to as vanem, during the late(?) middle-ages.. Translated as Королевская ул. (Korolevskaya, 'royal street') in 1882, etc. Renamed (1948-1987) as Niguliste during the Soviet occupation.
