S. Tol Brandir loc. “Tindrock, (lit.) Isle of the Great Steeples”

S. Tol Brandir, loc. “Tindrock, (lit.) Isle of the Great Steeples”

An island in S. Nen Hithoel translated “Tindrock” (LotR/373), but more literally meaning “Isle of the Great Steeples” (PE17/22, PE17/61). The first element of this name is tol(l) “island”, but the origin of the second element is unclear. In one place, Tolkien indicated it was an elaboration of brand² “steeple” (PE17/22, PE17/61), in another that it was a corruption of baradnir “tower-steep” (RC/333).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien considered many different names for this island: first N. Toll-ondren “Carrock” with many minor variations (TI/268, 285) and then N. Tolharn or Tollernen “Stoneait” (TI/324), revised to N. Eregon “Stone Pinnacle” (TI/345), briefly N. Emris before reverting back to Eregon (TI/367) and then finally N. Tol Brandor >> Tol Brandir (TI/359, 367).

References ✧ LotR/373; LotRI/Tindrock, Tol Brandir; PE17/22, 61; RC/333; VT47/13, 28

Glosses

Variations

Elements

tol(l) “island, (high steep-sided) isle” ✧ RC/333 (Tol); VT47/13 (Tol); VT47/28 (Tol)
brand² “steeple” ✧ PE17/22; PE17/61
?

N. Tol Brandor loc. “Tindrock”

See S. Tol Brandir for discussion.

References ✧ TI/285, 359, 367; TII/Tol Brandir, Tol Brandor

Glosses

Variations

Changes

N. Eregon loc. “Stone Pinnacle”

Early name for Tol Brandir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/285, 367) glossed “Stone Pinnacle” (TI/345). It may be a combination of er or ereg “one, alone” and gonn “stone”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.36).

See S. Tol Brandir for further discussion.

References ✧ TI/285, 345, 367; TII

Glosses

Changes

Elements

*er “one, alone”
gonn “rock, stone (as a material)”

N. Emris loc.

Early name for Tol Brandir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/318, 367). The meaning of this name is unclear.

See S. Tol Brandir for further discussion.

References ✧ TI/318, 367; TII

Changes

N. Tolharn loc. “Stoneait”

Early name for Tol Brandir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, also appearing as Tollernen and glossed “Stoneait” (TI/324, 345), where “ait” is an archaic English word for “island in a river”. It seems to be a combination of toll “island” and a lenited form of sarn “stone”, as suggested by Roman Rausch, though he suggested the form Tollernen may instead contain an adjective *ernen “single” (EE/2.36) [but this does not match the gloss].

References ✧ TI/324, 345; TII/Tolondren

Glosses

Variations

Changes

Elements

toll “island, isle” ✧ TI/345 (Tol)
sarn “stone as a material” soft-mutation ✧ TI/345 (harn)

N. Toll-ondren loc. “Carrock”

Early name for Tol Brandir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, glossed “Carrock” and also appearing as (deleted) Toll-ondu and Toll-onnui (TI/268, 285). It seems to be a combination of toll “island” and a lenited form of an otherwise unattested adjective gondren “*of stone”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.36).

References ✧ TI/268, 271, 285; TII/Tolondren

Glosses

Variations

Related

Changes

Elements

toll “island, isle” ✧ TI/268
#gondren “*of stone” soft-mutation ✧ TI/268 (ondren)