iâth

noun. fence

iâth

noun. fence

iath

noun. fence

iâth

fence

(noun) 1) iâth (construct iath, pl. iaith) (WJ:370, 378), also ?iâd (construct iad), pl. iaid. 2) lest (girdle, boundary), pl. list, 3) (outer/encircling fence) ephel (pl. ephil), 4) (with spikes and sharp stakes) cail (i gail, o chail) (palisade); no distinct pl. form except with article (i chail).

iâth

fence

(construct iath, pl. iaith) (WJ:370, 378), also ?iâd (construct iad), pl. iaid.

doriath

place name. Land of the Fence

The land ruled by Thingol and Melian, so called because it was protected by the Girdle of Melian (S/97). This name was translated “Land of the Girdle” (S/97) or more literally “Land of the Fence” (WJ/370), and was a combination of dôr “land” and iath “fence” (SA/dôr, iâth).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this land was first called G. Dor Athro “Land Beyond” (LT2A/Artanor), revised to G. Doriath (LT2/41), the form it retained thereafter. In The Etymologies from the 1930s, N. Doriath was translated “Land of the Cave”, with the second element being a lenited form of N. gath “cavern” (Ety/GAT(H)). The association of the name with the Girdle of Melian first appeared in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/16).