N. toss n. “bush, low-growing tree” (Category: Vegetation (other))
A noun for a “bush” or “low-growing tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶tussā under the root ᴹ√TUS (Ety/ÓR-NI, TUS). According to Tolkien, the bush-like trees described by this word include maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc. Such trees cannot be called orn “(tall) tree” (Ety/ÓR-NI), but presumably could be referred to with the more general term galadh “tree”.
References ✧ Ety/ÓR-NI, TUS
Glosses
Element In
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
ᴹ✶tussā > toss | [tussā] > [tussa] > [tossa] > [toss] | ✧ Ety/TUS |