Places in Middle-earth
Linaewen
Type: Rivers & Lakes
Region: Beleriand & North
Meaning: Lake of Birds
Location: The great marshy lake of Nevrast.
Description:
By some Nevrast was held to belong rather to Beleriand than to Hithlum, for it was a milder land, watered by the wet winds from the sea and sheltered from the cold north winds that blew over Hithlum. It was a hollow land, surrounded by mountains and great coast-cliffs higher than the plains behind, and no river flowed thence; and there was a great mere in the midst of Nevrast, with no certain shores, being encircled by wide marshes. Linaewen was the name of that mere, because of the multitude of birds that dwelt there, of such as love tall reeds and shallow pools.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
Etymology
lin 'pool, mere' in Linaewen (which contains aew [Quenya aiwe] 'small bird'), Teiglin....
The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 18Nov09, 14Mar11