LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 04 – A Short Cut to Mushrooms

[davem]

Originally Posted by SpM

I like the idea of a fire being mended, since it suggests that its natural state is alight and that it is somehow "broken" when extinguished. And "worriting" is just a great word: one which I now intend to make great use of.

Have to say these words didn't register on me in the same way, as both of them were in my childhood, & to an extent still are, quite common usages here. I think 'mending' in this sense derives from 'amending', putting right.

Incidentally, Chambers dictionary includes in the definition of maggot: magg'oty: full of maggots; crotchety(ie short-tempered); very drunk. Going by the original character of Farmer Maggot, violent, short tempered, & apparenetly a bit of a drinker, I wonder if Tolkien is playing word games with us!