A verb meaning “to foam, surge” (for example, of the sea), used in all versions of the Markirya, both the version from the 1960s and the original from 1931 (and many of its preceding drafts). In the poem, it appeared as an active participle falastala “surging” (MC/222), but in the commentary after the poem it was glossed “foam” (MC/223). In one of the commentaries to the early versions of the poem from around 1930, Tolkien glossed this verb as “make sound as surf” (PE16/75). This verb is probably a derivative of the root √PHAL, perhaps from ✱phalas-tā.
Quenya
falasta-
to foam
falasta-
verb. to foam, surge, to foam, surge, [ᴱQ.] make a sound like surf
Derivations
- √PHAL “foam, splash”
Element in
- Q. ëar falastala “the sea surging” ✧ MC/222
falasta- vb. "to foam", participle falastala "foaming, surging" in Markirya