I was having so much fun with the discussion of shipnames and nomenclature in general that I was rereading the Shibboleth, as one does when one wants to gird oneself with knowledge and pedantry and also smack oneself in the head a lot.
There are three things that give me much joy.
1.) We’ve spilled much ink arguing over Celegorm’s hair color, but after reading the discussion of Maglor’s name, I’m kind of surprised I haven’t found anyone arguing about his.
“Makalaure: Of uncertain meaning. Usually interpreted (and said to have been a ‘prophetic’ mother-name) as ‘forging gold’. If so, probably a poetic reference to his skill in harping, the sound of which was ‘golden’ (laure was a word for golden light or colour, never used for the metal).”
Sure, you could go for the poetic reference here, OR you could have a whole new hill to die on: the fact that the gold in his name references color and light, and the fact that other names in the family also indicated hair color, might denote that Maglor was a blond bitch, dudes.
I’m not going to argue this myself, but only because I don’t think he could pull it off.2.) And okay this isn’t news, but
“Tyelkormo ‘hasty-riser’. Quenya tyelka ‘hasty’. Possibly in reference to his quick temper, and his habit of leaping up when suddenly angered.”
plus “[Celegorm] Turkafinwe ’strong, powerful (in body)’. (Turko)”
means that we have canonically swole Celegorm, aka Bouncy McGee.
My protein-packed gymrat Celegorm is a FACT. Also he jump.
3.) And finally, apparently Aegnor’s name is not the actual perfect Sindarin form of his Quenya name – because there is no adjective in Sindarin nasty enough.
“There was no Sindarin adjective corresponding to Quenya aika ‘fell, terrible, dire’ though aeg would have been its form if it had occurred.”
This indicates two things to me. One: Aegnor def introduced himself to girls in Beleriand bars with ‘Lol yeah, you can call me Aegnor, but technically my name’s too badass for your language’ and two: Finarfin, gentle birbprince and bastion of diplomacy, literally named his son ‘THE HEIN FLAME’
Just an addendum that makes it even better in Aegnor’s case tbh: That is actually his mother-name! Earwen gives all her children the funniest names hahahaha
Earwen: *has a kid*
Kid: *is smol, splodgy, probably poos a little*
Earwen: HAIL AND WELL MET, IRON FIST
Earwen: go big or go home, little man
Both: *fist-bump*
Finarfin: *snaps a picture, wipes a tear*
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