Highlands near Nargothrond, described as the “Hills of the Hunters” in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (SA/faroth, LB/214). This earlier description does not seem to be a proper translation, since the initial element of this name is clearly taur “forest”, followed by en¹ “of the” and faroth. The last word is untranslated, but it probably has something to do with hunting, as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (SA/faroth).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, the first Elvish name for this region was N. Duil Rewinion (SM/225), later revised to N. Taur-na-Faroth (LR/262). A similar form Taur-na-Faras appeared in The Etymologies under the root ᴹ√SPAR¹ “hunt, pursue”, where faras is glossed “hunting” (Ety/SPAR). This is the best evidence for the meaning of Faroth.

Earliest name of Taur-en-Faroth in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/225). Its seems to be a combination of the plural of dôl “hill” and the form rewinion “of the hunters”, apparently a genitive plural formation, possibly related to N. rhui(w) “hunt” from the root ᴹ√ROY¹ “chase” or perhap G. raust “hunt” from the root ᴱ√RAVA.