S. Elwing f. “Star-spray”

S. Elwing, f. “Star-spray”

Granddaughter of Lúthien, beloved of Q. Eärendil and mother of Elrond and Elros, her name is translated “Star-spray” (S/235, Let/448). This name is a combination of êl “star” and the lenited form of gwing “spray” (SA/wing; PM/365 note #55, 376 note #24).

Conceptual Development: Her name appeared as G. Elwing in the earliest Lost Tales (LT2/241), but in the Gnomish Lexicon from this period her name was translated “Lake Foam”, a variant of the name G. Ailwing (GL/17, 32). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, Tolkien revised the meaning of the initial element of N. Elwing, first deriving it from ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL), then from ᴹ√EL “star” (Ety/EL). Thereafter, her name remained “Star-spray”, but Tolkien did at times consider that the second element -wing might be borrowed from a non-Sindarin language, either from the language of the Green Elves (PM/349) or from Bëorian (PM/369).

References ✧ Let/282, 448; LotRI; MRI; PM/349, 365, 369, 376; PMI; S/235; SA/wing; SI/Elwing, Lanthir Lamath; UTI; WJI

Glosses

Elements

êl “star” ✧ PM/369 (el)
gwing “foam, spindrift” soft-mutation ✧ PM/376; SA/wing (wing)
Nan. **wing “foam, spindrift, spume” ✧ PM/365
Ed. **wing “spray, spindrift” ✧ PM/369

N. Elwing f. “Star-spray”

See S. Elwing for discussion.

References ✧ Ety/EL, ƷEL; LRI; RSI; SDI2/Elwing; SMI; TII; WRI

Elements

el “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL
gwing “spindrift, flying spray” soft-mutation
ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” ✧ Ety/ƷEL

G. Ailwing f. “Lake Foam”

References ✧ GL/17, 32; PE13/108

Glosses

Variations

Related

Changes

Elements

ail “lake, pool” ✧ GL/17
gwing “wave-crest, crest, foam”

Cognates


G. Elwing f. “Lake Foam”

References ✧ GL/17, 32; LT2A/Elwing; LT2I

Glosses

Related

Elements

ail “lake, pool” ✧ LT2A/Elwing
gwing “wave-crest, crest, foam” soft-mutation ✧ LT1A/Wingilot