The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Location
The central and southern parts of Eriador; the name Branda-nîn was used especially of the stretch of the river that flowed along the eastern borders of the Shire
Culture
The name Branda-nîn was devised by the Shire-hobbits
Source
Tributaries
Outflow
Into the Great Sea northward of Eryn Vorn
Pronunciation
bra'nda-nee'n
Meaning
'Border water', modelled on Elvish Baranduin, 'golden brown river'
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 30 October 2023
  • This entry is complete

River Branda-nîn

The Hobbits’ true name for the ‘Brandywine

Map of the river Branda-nîn

The wide river that separated Buckland from the Shire was known to the Elves as Baranduin, meaning 'golden brown river'. The Hobbits' name for the same river is usually represented as a punning corruption of this name, into 'Brandywine'. 'Brandywine', though, is an English name, and so cannot have actually been used by the Hobbits. Instead, it's an anglicisation based on a simplified version of the actual situation.

In fact, the Hobbits' original version of the Elvish 'Baranduin' was Branda-nîn, a word meaning 'border water', because the river formed the eastern border of the Shire. Over time, this name mutated further, becoming 'Bralda-hîm', meaning 'heady ale', and it is this later name that more closely parallels the anglicised version 'Brandywine'.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 October 2023
  • This entry is complete

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