A series of rapids on the river Anduin described as “sharp shelves and stony teeth” (LotR/391) and translated “Stone-spikes” (RC/327). This name is a combination of sarn “stone” and the plural of the lenited plural of ceber “spike” (SA/sarn, RC/327). This formation is somewhat odd, since nouns in this position are not usually lenited in Sindarin, though they were in earlier Noldorin. The form Gebir may be a hold-over of its early Noldorin name.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, these rapids were first named N. Pensarn, quickly revised to N. Ruinel >> Sarn Ruin (TI/366), and a bit later to (plural) Sern Gebir >> Sarn Gebir (TI/283). These last two forms also appeared in The Etymologies with an unclear gloss, perhaps “?lonestone” or “?limestone”, but they were struck out (Ety/KEPER, EtyAC/KEPER).

Earlier name of S. Sarn Gebir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/366). Its initial element is sarn “stone”, but the meaning of its second element is unclear. Some possibilities were suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.39, 2.40).

See S. Sarn Gebir for further discussion.

Earlier name of S. Sarn Gebir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/366). Its meaning is unclear, but some possibilities were suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.39, 2.40).

See S. Sarn Gebir for further discussion.

Earliest name of S. Sarn Gebir in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/366). It may be a combination of penn¹ “slope” and sarn “stone”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.40).

See S. Sarn Gebir for further discussion.