Hi Eric, if the word is catalan in origin (it could be as in the area both catalan and aranes languages are used) colomer could be easily interpreted as pigeon loft or pigeon house, and colomers is just its plural form, so Circ de Colomers could mean pigeon houses circus. Strange, but place names are almost always enigmatic. In case it were not catalan but aranes I wouldn't know... I manage myself in catalan, but not in aranes, although it is quite interesting!... Many thanks for your kind comments!
Thanks for this interesting explanation. There is also a Refugi Colomina not far around here, perhaps the same origin ? One possible explanation is that the "pigeons" (or colombes, "doves" in english) designate indeed the Lagopedes (alpine ptarmigans who live the the Pyrenees) and maybe Colomers used to be a place where people saw a lot. Do you think this could be plausible ?
It sounds strange for me that people confussed that bird with doves, but well, it is possible. In Catalonia the root colom is very common in many places and in many contexts, not just in the Pyrenees, but all over the country. As a surname, for instance, there is the outstanding case of Cristopher Columbus, that signed always as Colom (and this is because he was catalan, obviously!). Being colom such a widespread root, I guess that it was at least clear for people what a dove was and what was not, so I see unlikely confussion with lagopedes. Colomina is just a diminutive of Coloma, and that is the femenine of Colom, used often as a women's name. Nevertheless it can also be interpreted as a little female dove... who knows? but is always interesting!
visentin - Apr 22, 2010 6:44 am - Voted 10/10
etymologyDo you have any idea what is the meaning of the word Còlomers or what does this word mean ? I have been searching a bit but in vain.
PereRamon - Apr 22, 2010 2:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: etymologyHi Eric, if the word is catalan in origin (it could be as in the area both catalan and aranes languages are used) colomer could be easily interpreted as pigeon loft or pigeon house, and colomers is just its plural form, so Circ de Colomers could mean pigeon houses circus. Strange, but place names are almost always enigmatic. In case it were not catalan but aranes I wouldn't know... I manage myself in catalan, but not in aranes, although it is quite interesting!... Many thanks for your kind comments!
visentin - Apr 23, 2010 3:34 am - Voted 10/10
Re: etymologyThanks for this interesting explanation. There is also a Refugi Colomina not far around here, perhaps the same origin ? One possible explanation is that the "pigeons" (or colombes, "doves" in english) designate indeed the Lagopedes (alpine ptarmigans who live the the Pyrenees) and maybe Colomers used to be a place where people saw a lot. Do you think this could be plausible ?
PereRamon - Apr 23, 2010 8:05 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: etymologyIt sounds strange for me that people confussed that bird with doves, but well, it is possible. In Catalonia the root colom is very common in many places and in many contexts, not just in the Pyrenees, but all over the country. As a surname, for instance, there is the outstanding case of Cristopher Columbus, that signed always as Colom (and this is because he was catalan, obviously!). Being colom such a widespread root, I guess that it was at least clear for people what a dove was and what was not, so I see unlikely confussion with lagopedes. Colomina is just a diminutive of Coloma, and that is the femenine of Colom, used often as a women's name. Nevertheless it can also be interpreted as a little female dove... who knows? but is always interesting!
Regards Eric!
visentin - Apr 26, 2010 2:17 am - Voted 10/10
Re: etymologywell it's just a supposition !
PereRamon - Apr 26, 2010 5:49 am - Hasn't voted
Re: etymologyOf course I know, no knowledge can be gathered without making suppositions and hypothesis... thanks for all Eric, have a good day!