aefenglommung (aefenglommung) wrote,
aefenglommung
aefenglommung

You can dig all day, and still not reach the bottom of Middle-earth

I'm reading this quirky book on words that relate to topography and biomes and such. And in it, I learn that sarn is Welsh for a causeway. Why is that cool?

Well, because those of us who are diehard Tolkien fans know that he modeled the Shire on the English Midlands, while adjoining areas -- especially Bree and its surroundings -- were sort of like the lands of blended culture around Offa's Dike: the Englishness blends with Welshness. Bree comes from the Welsh word for "hill." Coombe is in a valley, which in Welsh is cwm. And so on.

But I didn't realize that Sarn Ford -- the main river crossing on the south border of the Shire -- was of the same sort. A ford enhanced by the building of a causeway. One word is Welsh, one English, right there on the border -- the interface -- between the two areas.

Cool.
Subscribe

  • Taking one's own medicine

    Over a long and varied life in Scouting, I have somehow avoided taking Wood Badge, the top leadership course for Scouters. There are various reasons…

  • Your obscure English etymology of the day

    In the traditional English carol called "The Holy Well," the child Jesus attempts to play with some local children, who get all snooty about his low…

  • The Four Marks of the Church: Apostolicity

    We believe in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church --Nicene Creed, AD 325 In the Book of Acts, we see the apostles choosing a successor…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    When you submit the form an invisible reCAPTCHA check will be performed.
    You must follow the Privacy Policy and Google Terms of use.
  • 0 comments