lang

noun. passage; neck, passage; neck, *throat

A word for “neck” appearing in notes written around 1967, most notably as an element in tarlang “stiff-neck” = “proud” (PE17/92). It was derived from primitive ✶langō (< √LAƷA “cross, pass over, go beyond”) which meant “a passage (physical), originally applied to any route or connecting link between two places or large objects, especially such as enabled one to cross or surmount an obstacle: such as a mountain-pass, a ridge of higher land across fen-land, an isthmus etc.” (PE17/91-92). This word was then “later applied to narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts, especially the ‘neck’ of men and animals”. The word lang had the gloss “neck” (both in geography as well as for men and animals) in Tolkien’s Nomenclature of the Lord of the Rings as well (RC/536).

Conceptual Development: There was a similar noun N. {lhang >>} lhanc in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√LAK “swallow” (Ety/LANK). This earlier word was likewise an element in N. tarlanc “stiff-necked, obstinate” (Ety/TÁRAG).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think it is unlikely that N. lhanc (or ᴺS. ✱lanc) “throat” can coexist with S. lang “neck”. However, since S. lang originally referred to a “passage”, I think it can be interpreted as referring to the passage from the mouth to the stomach and lungs, and hence also used with the sense “✱throat”. For the actual interior mechanism of the throat, however, I’d recommend the neologism ᴺS. lhunc “pharynx, gullet” < ᴹ√SLUK “swallow”.

Cognates

• Q. lango “neck, neck, [ᴹQ.] throat” ✧ PE17/092

Derivations

• ✶langō “route or connection between to places; neck” ✧ PE17/092
  • √LAƷ “cross, pass over, go beyond” ✧ PE17/091

Element in

• ᴺS. langan(d) “stringed instrument with a neck (lute, guitar, etc.)”
• S. Tarlang “Stiff Neck; Stiff/Tough Passage” ✧ RC/536
• S. tarlang “proud, (lit.) stiff-necked; stiff neck (a nickname applied to men of haughty carriage or mood); the stiff/tough passage, proud, [N.] obstinate, [S.] (lit.) stiff-necked; stiff neck (a nickname applied to men of haughty carriage or mood); the stiff/tough passage” ✧ PE17/092; RC/536; RC/536

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶langō > lang	[laŋgō] > [laŋgo] > [laŋg] > [laŋ]	✧ PE17/092

lang

noun. a passage

n. a passage (physical). Originally applied to any route or connecting link between two places or large objects, esp. such as enable one to cross or surmount an obstacle: such as mountain-pass, a ridge of higher land across fen-land, an isthmus, etc. Later applied to narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts, esp. the 'neck' of men and animals. FAchad Tarlang

lang

noun. cutlass, sword

lang

cutlass

lang (sword), pl. laing

lang

sword

(cutlass), pl. leng.

lang

cutlass

(sword), pl. laing

lang

noun. cutlass, sword

megil

sword

1) megil (i vegil), no distinct pl. form except with article (i megil). This is a borrowing from Quenya macil (VT45:32). 2) magol (i vagol), analogical pl. megyl (i megyl), coll. pl. maglath (though analogical ?magolath may also be possible). In ”Noldorin”, this was the native word for ”sword” (derived from primitive makla, as is Quenya macil); it is unclear whether Tolkien definitely replaced it with megil when he turned ”Noldorin” into Sindarin, or whether both words coexist in the language. 3) lang (cutlass), pl. leng.

magol

sword

(i vagol), analogical pl. megyl (i megyl), coll. pl. maglath (though analogical ?magolath may also be possible). In ”Noldorin”, this was the native word for ”sword” (derived from primitive makla, as is Quenya macil); it is unclear whether Tolkien definitely replaced it with megil when he turned ”Noldorin” into Sindarin, or whether both words coexist in the language.

megil

noun. sword

The word was struck out in the Etymologies, but is well attested in late compounds such as Mormegil or Arvegil (with regular mutation). It is conceivably the Sindarinized form of Quenya makil, coexisting with magol (see tegil and tegol for a similar case)

megil

noun. sword

_ n. _sword. i·arben na megil and 'The Knight of the Long Sword'.

athra

cross

(verb) #athra- (isolated from the gerund athrad "crossing") (i athra, in athrar), also athrada- (traverse) (i athrada, in athradar)

athra

cross

(isolated from the gerund athrad "crossing") (i athra, in athrar), also athrada- (traverse) (i athrada, in athradar)

hathel

broadsword blade

(i chathel, o chathel) (axe blade), pl. hethil (i chethil)

megil

sword

(i vegil), no distinct pl. form except with article (i megil). This is a borrowing from Quenya macil (VT45:32).

tuilinn

swallow

(etymologically ”spring-singer”) *tuilinn (i duilinn, o thuilinn), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thuilinn). Form normalized from tuilind in source; the latter would be an archaic form.

tuilinn

swallow

(i duilinn, o thuilinn), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thuilinn). Form normalized from tuilind in source; the latter would be an archaic form.