Varraku (Varrak)

1) Character from the Kalevipoeg: the Lappish sage who agrees to take Kalevipoeg to the end of the world. 2) The Viking traders, pirates, mercenaries (to 11^th/13^th‑C Kievan and Novgorodian princes among others), known mainly as bodyguard to the Byzantine Emperors. Name derived from Varjaag, Estonian for Varangian (Old East Slavic: Varyag). Renamed (1979-1995) as Lumiste J. during the Soviet occupation. Part of a magico-mythological group. See Vikerlase.

• Person
• Literature

Värsi (Värss)

1) Verse; 2) Steer, young bull. Renamed (1940-1941) after Juhan Liiv (1864-1913), poet, dark romantic and, during certain phases of his muddled mental existence, son of Tsar Alexander II, King of Poland, etc. Author of the moving Ta lendab mesipuu poole (paraphrasing: the bee flies back to the hive, a regular pollenizer at the Estonian Song Festival, Laulupeo). Died after being thrown from a train in mid-winter for not having a ticket. They took it so much more seriously in those days. First named as Koidula L. (1926-1959) with whom Liiv also, shall we say, identified. Briefly named Tähelennu (1959-1960), shooting-star or space flight,  the space race was on, and changed to this in 1960, along with its parallel of Lauliku, so ‘verse’ it is.

Veeriku (Veerik)

1) Roller, something that rolls; 2) Edging, binding of a (traditional) skirt; or 3) if you believe Kreutzwald, a blood blister (from vere, blood) that Kalevipoeg got between the toes from dancing too much.