Forgoil
From Tolkien Gateway
- "Death to the Forgoil! Death to the Strawheads! Death to the robbers from the North!"
- – Dunlendings[1]
The Forgoil, or the Strawheads as it reportedly translated in Westron, were the enemies of the Dunlendings. In the rest of Middle-earth, they were known as Rohirrim.
[edit] History
The Forgoil received the land of Calenardhon in T.A. 2510 as a gift from the Steward of Gondor. The people who had been living there, were forced to live in the dreary hills of Dunland. For this robbery, they still hated the Strawheads, and a long history of fighting and scheming ensued.[2] Five hundred years later, Saruman incited the hatred within the Dunlendings, and set them to assault the Forgoil at the Hornburg. Their battle-cries expressed their grievances properly: "Death to the Forgoil! Death to the Strawheads!".[1]
[edit] Etymology
Forgoil is the only known word in the language of the Dunlendings. It is possible that the final part of the word, -il, is a plural marker, such as in the case of Haradric mûmakil; similar formation with the ending -li is also seen in Quenya.[3] The (possible) element go has been tied to the Pre-Númenórean word Go-hilleg,[4] which is untranslated, but refers to the Númenórean settlers. It could mean "head", in this sense.[5] However, both these interpretations remain speculation; Tolkien never left any notes on the subject.
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl
- ↑ Helge Kåre Fauskanger, "Various Mannish Tongues", Ardalambion
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Tal-Elmar"
- ↑ Roman Rausch, "Tar-Elmar and the Drughu tongue", Sindanórië
