A word appearing in The Qenya Phonology of the 1910s whose plural tendilli was glossed “pieces of string” (PE12/25). Its root was given as ᴱ√TEME, which elsewhere was glossed “tie” (QL/91).
Early Quenya
serma
noun. string, cord
tendl
noun. string
There are more words but they are from Tolkien's earlier conceptional periods. Tolkien likely changed these words as he evolved the aesthetics and completeness of the languages. You may even find languages that Tolkien later rejected. Do not mix words from different time periods unless you are familiar with the phonetic developments.
Below: Tolkien's Late Period (1950–1973). These are from Tolkien's late conceptual period — his most settled forms of the languages. Prefer these over the earlier ones above when composing new text.
A word appearing as ᴱQ. serma “string, cord” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√SERE [ÞERE] “twine, tie, bind” (QL/83).
Neo-Quenya: In Tolkien’s later writings √THER meant “sew”, but I think ᴺQ. serma can be salvaged if its use is limited to a smaller “string”.