Ent-like creatures from the forest of Fangorn (LotR/705).

Possible Etymology: Clearly the final element of this word is orn “tree”, but Tolkien was unsure of the initial element. In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien considered first considered hû “spirit, shadow” < ✶hyōba (PE17/86). He then considered hû derived from ✶khōgo with a new gloss that might be “hound” or might be “heart” according to Christopher Gilson; compare N. hû “dog” from The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√KHUG (Ety/KHUG). This was followed by unglossed forms hôn or hûn derived from primitive ✶khōn-, which obviously resemble N. hûn “heart” from The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√KHŌ-N (Ety/KHŌ-N).

Thus Tolkien may have considered the possible meanings: “spirit-tree”, “shadow-tree”, “hound-tree”, “heart-tree”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, Tolkien gave these creatures Quenya names ᴹQ. Lamorni >> ᴹQ. Ornómi “Talking Trees” (WR/50).

An earlier term for the huorn appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, also appearing as Ornómar, variously glossed “Talking Trees” and “Trees with Voices” (WR/50, 52, 55). It is apparently a combination of orne “tree” and a pluralized form of óma “voice”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/3.3).

An earlier term for the huorn appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s glossed “Talking Trees” (WR/50), apparently a combination of some form of the root ᴹ√LAM having to do with language and the plural of orne “tree”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/3.3).