Of course, Garm in Norse mythology is the name of the hound who guarded the realm of Hel (the Underworld), & slays Tyr, the one-handed god, at Ragnarok. Surely this is an ironic 'echo' of the conflict between Beren & Carcharoth. The original Garm is a terrifying, fearless monster, while Giles' dog is a cowardly cur. Giles as a personal name comes from the latin Aegidius, (from aegis)
Quote:
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"protection," 1793, from L. ægis, from Gk. Aigis, the shield of Zeus, said by Herodotus to be related to aix (gen. aigos) "goat," from PIE *aig- "goat" (cf. Skt. ajah, Lith. ozys "he-goat"), as the shield was of goatskin. Athene's aigis was a short goat-skin cloak, covered with scales, set with a gorgon's head, and fringed with snakes.
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So Giles is the 'shield' of his people.
I note in passing that 'Farmer Giles' is rhyming slang for piles, which may explain his bad temper & desire to avoid fighting......