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”
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 |