S. Taur-en-Faroth loc. “*Forest of the Hunting”

S. Taur-en-Faroth, loc. “*Forest of the Hunting”

Highlands near Nargothrond, described as the “Hills of the Hunters” in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (SA/faroth, LB/214). This earlier description does not seem to be a proper translation, since the initial element of this name is clearly taur “forest”, followed by en¹ “of the” and faroth. The last word is untranslated, but it probably has something to do with hunting, as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (SA/faroth).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, the first Elvish name for this region was N. Duil Rewinion (SM/225), later revised to N. Taur-na-Faroth (LR/262). A similar form Taur-na-Faras appeared in The Etymologies under the root ᴹ√SPAR¹ “hunt, pursue”, where faras is glossed “hunting” (Ety/SPAR). This is the best evidence for the meaning of Faroth.

References ✧ LBI; LR/299; LRI/Taur-na-Faroth; SA/faroth; SI/High Faroth, Taur-en-Faroth; UTI; WJI

Glosses

Elements

taur “forest, wood”
en¹ “of the”
faroth “*hunting” ✧ SA/faroth

N. Taur-na-Faroth loc. “*Forest of Hunting”

See S. Taur-en-Faroth for discussion.

References ✧ Ety/SPAR; EtyAC/PHAR²; LR/262, 299; LRI; WJI/Taur-en-Faroth

Glosses

Variations

Changes

Elements

taur¹ “forest, great wood” ✧ Ety/SPAR
na “with, by; of” ✧ Ety/SPAR
faras “hunting” ✧ Ety/SPAR; EtyAC/PHAR² (faras)

N. Duil Rewinion loc. “Hills of the Hunters”

Earliest name of Taur-en-Faroth in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/225). Its seems to be a combination of the plural of dôl “hill” and the form rewinion “of the hunters”, apparently a genitive plural formation, possibly related to N. rhui(w) “hunt” from the root ᴹ√ROY¹ “chase” or perhap G. raust “hunt” from the root ᴱ√RAVA.

References ✧ LR/268; LRI/Duil Rewinion; SM/225; SMI/Duil Rewinion; TII/Duil Rewinion

Glosses

Changes

Elements

dôl “head, hill” plural ✧ SM/225 (Duil)
rewinion “of the hunters” genitive plural ✧ SM/225