The lake above the falls of Rauros, translated “Mist-cool Water” in Tolkien’s “Unfinished Index” of The Lord of the Rings (RC/327-8). This name is a combination of nen “water”, hîth “mist” and oel “cool” (SA/nen, hîth).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien first considered the names N. Kerin-muil and Nen-uinel (TI/364), only later settling on Nen Hithoel.

It may be that when Tolkien first conceived of this name, the final element was N. oel “lake”. Prior to the publication of The Lord of the Rings: a Reader’s Companion, this was a common theory for the meaning of this name. When Noldorin became Sindarin, the word N. oel became S. ael, as in S. Aelin-uial “Meres of Twilight”, at which point Tolkien may have then revised the etymology for Nen Hithoel as given above. Since Nen Hithoel was a comparatively late composition, however, it may be that meaning “Mist-cool Water” was always Tolkien’s intent.

Earlier name of Nen Hithoel in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/364). Its initial element seems to be nen “water”, but the meaning of its final element is unclear.

See S. Nen Hithoel for further discussion.

Earliest name of Nen Hithoel in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/364). It may be a combination of cerin “enclosure” and a cognate of Ilk. muil, perhaps meaning “hidden”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.59).

See S. Nen Hithoel for further discussion.