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Mere (Meri)
Sea, ocean. Some linguists have suggested that mere could be a loan word belonging to speakers of a pre-Finno-Ugric and pre-Indo-European language of the Kunda Culture, hunter-gatherers of the period 8000-5000 BCE. Others, less, say, ‘adventurous’, consider the possibility of an old western-Germanic loan, *mari, from PIE *mori-, sea, also giving Latin mare, Russian море (more), Lithuanian mares, and all the way to the French region of Armorique from Gaulish Aremorici, dwellers near the sea. Mere seems to be the street’s oldest name (Ger. See-Promenade and Rus Морской бульваръ [Morskoy boulevard], 1884) but also, in whole or in part merged with Estonia, Lehmpforten (cattle-gate), 1907; Viruvärava (Viru gate), 1908; and Strandpforten or (Väike-)Rannavärava ([Lesser]coastal gate), 1913. This street is part of the E67 from Helsinki to Prague.
Luku (Lukk)
Lock. Interestingly, the expression ‘keep under lock and key’ is luku ja riivi taga hoidma, or ‘keep under lock and latch’, far more belt and braces. And given this street leads directly (well, around the corner) to Võtme it should come as no surprise!... Street created (?) in 2013 and currently (2025) under redevelopment.
Lutheri (Luther)
After the nearby Luther’s Furniture and Veneer Factory (A. M. Lutheri vabrik or just Lutheri vabrik) founded by Alexander Martin Luther in 1880, first of a line of innovative plywood furniture manufacturers. Check out the façade at Vana-Lõuna 37. NB: Streets called Lutheri (or similar) come in 3 varieties: 1) this one; and former iterations of 2. Lastekodu (but different Luther); and 3. Wiedemanni F.J. (AML).
Magasini (Magasin)
Storehouse, warehouse, named after the military stores then at the end of the street towards Tehnika, which now seem to be occupied by an Estonian defence agency. The street has gone through various phases. At some time in the 1920s, a government shelter for ex-cons eventually devolved into a dshungl (jungle) of tarpaulin tenements that shocked the city’s good citizens for the squalid life and sexuality of its its thugs and drunken women they certainly didn’t go there to watch. There was a prisoner of war camp after WWII (1944-1949) and, at No.35, a prison, now on Võtme, closed for redevelopment. Spelled Magasiini in 1885 and Magasi in 1939. Renamed (1949-1990) as Tisleri A. during the Soviet occupation.
