lap

root. fold, bend, [ᴱ√] enfold

The first appearance of this root was as ᴱ√LAPA “enfold” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. lapa- “wrap, swathe, wind” and ᴱQ. lapil “swathe, flowing cloth” (QL/51). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon like G. laf “loose-end, end of rope, hem of robe” and G. laptha- “to relax, loosen” (GL/52).

The root reappeared (unglossed) in The Etymologies of the 1930s, but there its derivatives were ᴹQ. lapse/N. lhaes “babe” (Ety/LAP). It is possible the meaning of the root shifted, but another likely possibility is that sense of these words were “babe” = “enfolded one”, as in swaddled in cloth; hat tip to Lokyt for suggesting this. The root √LAP appeared again in notes from the late 1960s with the glosses “fold, bend” (VT47/35), so it seems its early meaning was retained.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would stick with the sense “(en)fold” for √LAP.

Derivatives

• ᴺQ. lap- “to wrap, swathe, wind”
• ᴺQ. lapil “swathe, flowing cloth”
• ᴺQ. lappa “loose-end, end of rope, hem of robe”
• ᴺQ. laupë “tunic, shirt”
• ᴺS. laph “loose-end, end of rope, hem of robe”
• ᴺS. laub “shirt”