The Yale
The Yale was a region of the Shire, west of Stock. The road that emerged from the Woody End descended into the lowlands of the Yale.[1]
History
The Yale was of old the home of the Boffins.[2] Their homes lay in the Eastfarthing, between the Bridgefields and the Marish.[3]
Etymology
David Salo has suggested that Yale represents an Old Hobbitish form *Geal, from Welsh iâl.[4] This fits right in with Tolkien's comment to the Dutch Translator, Max Schuchart, that there were "'Celtic' elements in Buckland and East-farthing names."[5]
Yale is of course a well known English surname derived from a Welsh place name.[6] The modern meaning is "fertile upland", based on the location of the best known Yale, the commote of Iâl in Powys, the traditional home of the kings of Powys.[6]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Three is Company"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Boffin of the Yale"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Part of the Shire" map
- ↑ David Salo, "Hobbitish Place-names" dated 23 November 1998, Elfling (accessed 16 April 2024)
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 93
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mark T. Hooker, A Tolkienian Mathomium, pp. 42-47
