S. Nimbrethil loc. “Silver-birches”

S. Nimbrethil, loc. “Silver-birches”

A region of birches in Arvernien (LotR/233), translated “Silver birches” (PE17/19) or “White-birches” (RC/214). This name is a combination of nim “white” and brethil¹ “silver-birch” (PE17/19; SA/nim, brethil), though Tolkien said the second element could also be interpreted as brethil² “princess” (PE17/19, 23).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name also appeared as N. Nimbrethil (TI/99).

References ✧ LotRI; PE17/19, 23; RC/214; SA/brethil, nim; SI; WJI

Glosses

Elements

nim “white” ✧ PE17/19; PE17/19; SA/nim
brethil¹ “silver birch” ✧ PE17/19; SA/brethil
brethil² “princess, (lit.) queen-daughter” ✧ PE17/19; PE17/23

N. Nimbrethil loc.

See S. Nimbrethil for discussion.

References ✧ TI/99; TII

Elements

nimp “pale”
brethil “beech”