Quenya 

lepenel

middle finger

lepenel noun "middle finger", also [lependë] (VT47:10, VT48:5; lependë was struck out, VT48:15)

lepenel

noun. middle finger

Cognates

  • S. lebenedh “middle finger” ✧ VT48/05
  • T. nellepë “middle finger” ✧ VT48/05

Elements

WordGloss
lepe“finger”
enel“in the middle, between”
Quenya [VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/29; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lependë

middle finger

[lependë] noun "middle finger", also lepenel (VT47:10, VT48:15; struck out)

lependë

noun. middle finger

In rought drafts of notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, Tolkien coined various words for “middle finger” using initial element √ENED “middle”: Q. enestil, enelde or enelde, the first of these in combination with Q. til “tip” with the usual sound change of d+t > t+t > st (VT47/26). But Tolkien soon revised the form to lepende, a combination of ✶lepe “finger” and Q. endë “middle” (VT47/27).

The word lepende “middle finger” reappeared in the polished version of these notes, along with a variant lepenel (VT47/10). Tolkien said this variant was an older word interpreted as “finger number-three”, but was originally based on Q. enel “in the middle, between” (VT47/11), with d/l variation in the primitive root √ENED (VT47/29 note #43). In yet another version of these notes, lepenel was the only word for “middle finger” (VT48/5).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d use lependë as the usual word for “middle finger”, with †lepenel as an archaic variant.

Variations

  • lepende ✧ VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/27; VT47/28
Quenya [VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/27; VT47/28] Group: Eldamo. Published by

eneldë

middle finger

[eneldë, enellë, enestil noun "middle finger" (VT47:26)]

antil

middle finger

[antil noun "middle finger" (VT47:26)]