"eela" and "eelavar" are etymologically related to "eelam". the stem "eela" is found in prakrit inscriptions dated to 2nd century bce in sri lanka in terms such as "eela-barata" and "eela-naga", proper names. the meaning of "eela" in these inscriptions is unknown although one could deduce that they are either from "eela", a geographic location, or were an ethnic group known as "eela". although the two derivations "eelam" and "eelavar" are etymologically related, the word eelavar in south indian medieval inscriptions refer to the caste or function of toddy-drawers, drawn from the dravidian word for palm tree toddy, "eelam". from the 19th century onwards, sources appeared in south india regarding a legendary origin for caste of toddy drawers known as "eelavar" in the state of kerala. these legends stated that "eelavar" were originally from eelam. the consciousness of the south indian eelavar caste being of sri lankan origin is not older than 150–200 years. not only are the words "eezham, eelam, cilam, chilam, cheralam, eelavar, eela, i'la, e'lu, he'la, seeha'la, simha'la," "sinhala," greek "salai" and "seiladiba", the arab "serendib", portuguese "ceilão" and the colonial ceylon cognates.