Siens ‘šienas’ latvijos vietovardžiuose
The Lexeme siens ‘hay’ in Latvian Placenames

Summary/Abstract: This article discusses a group of Latvian placenames based on the lexeme siens ‘hay’. The main objectives are to analyze the main tendencies underlying the motivation of these placenames, and to find out whether the tendency of microtoponyms to rapidly disappear is typical of this group, too. The article specifically focuses on the widespread toponym Siena purvs ‘hay swamp/marsh’, the differences of its distribution in various regions of Latvia and the reasons thereof. The motivation of toponyms containing siens ‘hay’ is usually rather obvious – these names were given to meadows, marshlands or islands where hay was harvested; bridges across which it was being transported, etc. Nevertheless, the toponym Siena purvs provides material for more research – its distribution area shows the agricultural traditions differences in various regions of Latvia; besides, it has often been used metaphorically. This study confirms that the names of swamps and marshlands survive longer than other microtoponyms. Several swamps have retained the name Siena purvs even though hay is no longer harvested there.

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