Bounders: Difference between revisions
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The number of Bounders at any given time was not fixed but varied according to need. In the run up to the [[War of the Ring]]they were greatly increased as [[ruffians]] and spies of [[Isengard]] and [[Mordor]] began to enter [[Eriador]]. Unbeknownst to the Hobbits of the Shire this was the first sign that the troubles of the south would soon reach even their borders. | The number of Bounders at any given time was not fixed but varied according to need. In the run up to the [[War of the Ring]]they were greatly increased as [[ruffians]] and spies of [[Isengard]] and [[Mordor]] began to enter [[Eriador]]. Unbeknownst to the Hobbits of the Shire this was the first sign that the troubles of the south would soon reach even their borders. | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
The word means | The word means "persons watching the boundaries". | ||
[[Tolkien]] noted that the word was rare, probably because in the late 19th century slang it meant an offensively pushing and in-bred man. | [[Tolkien]] noted that the word was rare, probably because in the late 19th century slang it meant an offensively pushing and in-bred man.<ref name="Nomen">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings|Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]" in [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] (eds), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', pp. 753-4</ref> | ||
{{references}} | |||
* {{FR|Prologue}}: ''Of the Ordering of the Shire''. | * {{FR|Prologue}}: ''Of the Ordering of the Shire''. | ||
[[Category:Organisations in the Shire]] | [[Category:Organisations in the Shire]] | ||
Revision as of 00:02, 11 October 2010
The Bounders were responsible for policing the borders of the Shire and ensuring that outsiders behaved themselves. This was known as 'beating the bounds'. The Bounders was the larger of the two branches of the Watch (the other being the twelve Shirriffs).
The number of Bounders at any given time was not fixed but varied according to need. In the run up to the War of the Ringthey were greatly increased as ruffians and spies of Isengard and Mordor began to enter Eriador. Unbeknownst to the Hobbits of the Shire this was the first sign that the troubles of the south would soon reach even their borders.
Etymology
The word means "persons watching the boundaries".
Tolkien noted that the word was rare, probably because in the late 19th century slang it meant an offensively pushing and in-bred man.[1]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 753-4
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue": Of the Ordering of the Shire.
