Dwimmerlaik: Difference between revisions
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
The word ''dwimmerlaik'' is said to mean "work of necromancy, [[spectres|spectre]]" in the [[Rohirric|language of Rohan]].<ref>{{ | The word ''dwimmerlaik'' is said to mean "work of necromancy, [[spectres|spectre]]" in the [[Rohirric|language of Rohan]].<ref>{{LR|LRI}</ref> | ||
[[Christina Scull]] and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] have suggested that ''dwimmerlaik'' derives from [[Middle English]] ''dweomer'', [[Old English]] ''[[Wiktionary:gedwimor|(gwe)dwimor]]'', ''-er'' ("illusion, phantom") + Middle English ''-layk'', ''-laik'' ("play").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 562</ref> See also ''[[Dwimordene]]'', ''[[Dwimorberg]]''. | [[Christina Scull]] and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] have suggested that ''dwimmerlaik'' derives from [[Middle English]] ''dweomer'', [[Old English]] ''[[Wiktionary:gedwimor|(gwe)dwimor]]'', ''-er'' ("illusion, phantom") + Middle English ''-layk'', ''-laik'' ("play").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 562</ref> See also ''[[Dwimordene]]'', ''[[Dwimorberg]]''. | ||
Revision as of 11:59, 21 February 2012
Dwimmerlaik was a name given to Lord of the Nazgûl by Éowyn (as Dernhelm) when she confronted him during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[1]
By extension, it is possible that Dwimmerlaik is how the Rohirrim called the Wraiths or rumors of the Nazgûl in general.[source?]
Etymology
The word dwimmerlaik is said to mean "work of necromancy, spectre" in the language of Rohan.[2]
Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond have suggested that dwimmerlaik derives from Middle English dweomer, Old English (gwe)dwimor, -er ("illusion, phantom") + Middle English -layk, -laik ("play").[3] See also Dwimordene, Dwimorberg.
It is not clear if the word refers to a creature of the Rohanese folklore (like the holbytlan), specifically a phantom; therefore when Éowyn confronted the Witch-King she likely rather identified him with one, than coining the word on that moment.
David Day in A Tolkien Bestiary considered that a Dwimmerlaik is any creature of Rohanese superstitious folklore that includes Elves and Ents. However, other than the appearance of the root dwimor- to describe Lothlórien, there is no indication in Tolkien's writings that the word pre-existed or that it was used for other races.[4]
See also
