Names
Patriarh Aleksius II (Alexey Mikhailovich Ridiger, 1929-2008)
Patriarch Alexy II, real name Алексе́й Миха́йлович Ри́дигер. Born in Estonia, altar boy in Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1946), studied at Leningrad Theological Seminary then Academy from 1947-1953, patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1990 till his death. His square is in front of the Church of the ‘Quick to Hear’ Icon of the Mother of God. Just in case you thought you could quietly move onto the next entry, Estonian has another quirk: while the genitive of Arabic ordinals requires a period, e.g. 2. for teise, of the 2nd (cf. 1. liin, etc.), the genitive of Roman ordinals (and despite the late present being more of a Russian Cardinal), e.g. II for teise, doesn’t, which explains that sub-psychological tremor you didn’t consciously feel (and will barely recall tomorrow morning after your repugnant nightmares tonight). But this is language. As an aside, there are not enough stars in the sky to count the infinite variety of sounds pronouced by our trivial trillion trilling tongues.
Pauna (Paun)
Bag, pouch, knapsack, or something pouch-shaped. New street planned (2019) in Haabersti opposite Põllumäe south of Tiskre. Stiff competition for the name, beating, käär:kääru (turn, curve or bend, or bounded loop of land or water), look:looke (shaft bow, the decorative arch connecting the two shafts or thills [see Aisa] of a horse-drawn cart, but Looga already used) and silmus:silmuse (loop knot, noose or hempen collar). Given the meanders of the Tiskre river, all three were acceptable, but no... Then again, paun in N. Estonian dialect also means a marshy river lough, so. See also Kriibi.
Pebre (Peber)
Broken or crushed hay and seeds at the bottom of the hayrick. During Soviet times, collecting these perishables was rewarded by special travel permits, allowing many women and children to visit otherwise inaccessible destinations such as the ski resorts of central Siberia. Formerly Sõnajala (1939-1959) and Olga (1910-1939), after Albert Koba’s wife. See Timuti. Part of a fodder and staples street-name group. See Ristiku.
Pedaja (Pedajas)
Pine. Alternative name for Männi.
Peetri (Peeter)
Almost certainly Peter the Great, ruled 1682-1721, widely considered the greatest of male Russian monarchs, and go-to Tsar for any Russian-based naming-project not involving the Soviets, the main one being Peter the Great’s Naval Fortress, aka the Tallinn-Porkkala defence station built under Nicholas II, designed to protect Russia from attack by sea following the 1905 destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Battle of Tsushima, effectively ending the Russo-Japanese war. The distance between Tallinn and Porkkala (±36 km) was considered sufficient for guns on either side to create a barrier to any navy intent on attacking Saint Petersburg. See also Sõjakooli.
Pelgulinna (Pelgulinn)
Eponymous avenue (puiestee) of Pelgulinn asum created in 1921, and renamed Kolde in 1926. Clearly, someone had issues with this name.
