S. Rohirrim coll. “Horse-lords”

S. Rohirrim, coll. “Horse-lords”

The riders of Rohan, translated “Horse-lords” (LotR/262), a combination of roch “horse”, hîr “lord” and the class-plural suffix -rim (Let/382), with the [x] (“ch”) softening to [h] in Gondorian pronunciation (LotR/1113).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien first considered using N. Rohiroth (RS/440) and N. Rohirwaith (WR/22) using different suffixes for the class-plural.

References ✧ Let/178, 382; LotR/262, 1113; LotRI/Riders of Rohan, Rohirrim; PMI; SA/heru, roch; SI; TII/Rohiroth, Rohirrim; UT/319; UTI; WR/22; WRI

Glosses

Variations

Elements

roch “horse” ✧ Let/382; SA/roch
hîr “lord, master” ✧ Let/382; SA/heru
-rim “collective or group plural”
rim “host, great number, people (of one kind or origin)” ✧ Let/382 (rīm)

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

S. Rochir-rim > Rohirrim [roxīrrim] > [roxirrim] ✧ Let/178
S. Rochír-rim > Rohirrim [roxīrrim] > [roxirrim] ✧ UT/319

N. Rohiroth coll. “Horse-lords, Horse-masters”

See S. Rohirrim for discussion.

References ✧ PMI/Rohirrim; RS/440; RSI; TI/135; TII; WR/22; WRI/Rohir, Rohiroth

Glosses

Variations

Changes

Elements

roch “(swift) horse”
hîr “master, lord”
hoth “host, crowd; group plural”

N. Rohirwaith coll.

See S. Rohirrim for discussion.

References ✧ WR/22; WRI

Elements

roch “(swift) horse”
hîr “master, lord”
gweith “manhood; man-power, troop of able bodied men, host, regiment” soft-mutation