The name used among the Dwarves for the being known to the Hobbits as Tom Bombadil. In fact, Forn is not a Dwarvish name, but comes from ancient Scandinavian, representing the Mannish language of the region around Dale. That was the same language the Longbeard Dwarves used for their own 'outer' names, such as Durin, Dwalin or Bifur. So, if Tom had ever visited the Lonely Mountain or its nearby lands - and to have a name like this, it seems at least possible that he had done so - then not only the Dwarves but also the Men of that region would have understood his name Forn: 'one out of the ancient past'.
Notes
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The name Forn comes from a Scandinavian word - it is not related to the Elvish word for 'north' in names like Fornost. |
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- Updated 16 April 2010
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