Arbu (Arp)

Word with twofold, connected meaning: ‘lot’ (i.e. something drawn at random) and magic, contrivance. In Saaremaa and probably other areas too, when common land was shared among villagers, the plots were distributed by lots (cf. alloting, allotment). Arb:arva was the term for the narrow plot used in strip-farming, which, given the chance involved in terms of quality, location, farmability, etc., understandably evolved into its later meaning (but might it have been the other way round?). A similar relationship exists between English ‘lot’ (chance) and ‘lot’ (of land). Arbujad (sorcerers, soothsayers, shamans) was an influential group of Estonian poets (often called ‘Magicians of the Word’ in English) created in 1938, whose rather anti-totalitarian attitude did not endear them to the censors. Rebaptized (1979-1995) as Võrgu V. during the Soviet occupation. Part of a magico-mythological group. See Kahu.