Orthanc
noun. forked hight
orthanc
place name. Mount Fang, Forked Height
Saruman’s fortress, translated “Mount Fang” (LotR/555) or “Forked Height” (UT/400). This name appears to be a combination of a shorter form of orod “mountain” with thanc “cleft, split” (RC/625).
Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name was already N. Orthanc (TI/132), but its translation was revised “Stony Heart” >> “Stone Fang” >> “Mount Fang” (WR/35).
Elements
Word Gloss orod “mountain” thanc “forked, forked, [N.] cleft, split, [ᴱN.] divided, cloven, bifurcated; [ᴱN.] cleft, break, breach”
orthanc
place name. Mount Fang
Changes
- Orthanc → Orthanc “Stony Heart” ✧ WR/035
- Orthanc → Orthanc “Stone Fang” ✧ WR/035
Elements
Word Gloss orod “mountain” thanc “cleft, split”
Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!
orthanc
adjective. unbroken, without break or cleavage, united, continuous; masked
or (from stem oro- “up, rise, high”) + thanc (“split, forked”)