Crebain: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Daniel Govar - Crebain.jpg|thumb|''Crebain'' by [[Daniel Govar]].]]
{{quote|Not all the birds are to be trusted.|[[Aragorn]] in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Knife in the Dark]]"}}
'''Crebain''' were large black birds of [[Crows|crow-kind]], native to the lands that bordered the southern [[Misty Mountains]], [[Dunland]] to the west and [[Fangorn]] to the east. They seemed to possess at least some level of intelligence, and were apparently used as spies by [[Saruman]] during the [[War of the Ring]].
[[Image:Daniel Govar - Crebain.jpg|thumb|''Crebain'' by [[Daniel Govar]]]]
'''Crebain''' were large birds of the [[crows|crow-kind]], native to [[Dunland]] and [[Fangorn Forest]].


[[Category:Animals]]
==History==
The [[Fellowship of the Ring]] encountered various flocks of ''crebain'' on their arrival in [[Hollin]]. Fearing that they were used as spies by [[Saruman]], the Fellowship spent the entire day in hiding, without a campfire.<ref name="RGS">{{FR|South}}</ref>
 
==Etymology==
''Crebain'' is the [[Sindarin]] plural of ''craban''. The word was derived from [[Mannish]] tongues.<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 37</ref>
 
The plural form was known from the ''Lord of the Rings'' while the singular form was published in [[2007]]; even before the publication of this singular, ''craban'' was the generally assumed form by [[Tolkienists|students]] of [[Sindarin]], although the forms ''croban'' or ''creban'' were possible as well.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[David Salo]]|articleurl=https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c35c02bd1e7b46e2ee068|articlename=Etymology of ''crebain'' (50.32)|dated=2001-05-1|website=[[Elfling]]|accessed=2022-09-23}}</ref>
 
==Inspiration==
The similarity between ''craban'' and [[wikipedia:Proto-Germanic|Proto-Germanic]] *''hrabanaz''<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=raven Raven] at [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php the Online Etymology Dictionary]</ref> and its derivatives, such as ''raven'', has been noted by several writers.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, page 75</ref><ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', page 128</ref><ref>Robert Ireland, "[http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html The Lord of the Rings: A-C]", ''[[A Tolkien Dictionary]]''</ref>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:A flock of ''Crebain'' "from [[Dunland]]" appears when the Fellowship is in Hollin. Though [[Gimli]] at first dismisses it as a cloud, [[Boromir]] notices them going too fast, and against the wind. The Fellowship hide as the birds swoop by.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Ring Goes South (scene)|The Ring Goes South]]"</ref> The ''crebain'' are revealed to have indeed been spies when they report to Saruman at [[Isengard]] later.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Fighting Uruk-hai]]"</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Crebain|Images of ''Crebain'']]
* [[Crows]]
* [[Ravens]]
* [[Gorcrows]]
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Birds]]
[[Category:Birds]]
 
[[Category:Sindarin nouns]]
[[de:Krähen]]
[[Category:Servants of Saruman]]
[[de:Crebain]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:corbeaux:crebain]]
[[fi:Crebain]]
[[fi:Crebain]]

Latest revision as of 03:34, 24 October 2022

"Not all the birds are to be trusted."
Aragorn in The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
Crebain by Daniel Govar

Crebain were large birds of the crow-kind, native to Dunland and Fangorn Forest.

History[edit | edit source]

The Fellowship of the Ring encountered various flocks of crebain on their arrival in Hollin. Fearing that they were used as spies by Saruman, the Fellowship spent the entire day in hiding, without a campfire.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Crebain is the Sindarin plural of craban. The word was derived from Mannish tongues.[2]

The plural form was known from the Lord of the Rings while the singular form was published in 2007; even before the publication of this singular, craban was the generally assumed form by students of Sindarin, although the forms croban or creban were possible as well.[3]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

The similarity between craban and Proto-Germanic *hrabanaz[4] and its derivatives, such as raven, has been noted by several writers.[5][6][7]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

A flock of Crebain "from Dunland" appears when the Fellowship is in Hollin. Though Gimli at first dismisses it as a cloud, Boromir notices them going too fast, and against the wind. The Fellowship hide as the birds swoop by.[8] The crebain are revealed to have indeed been spies when they report to Saruman at Isengard later.[9]

See also[edit | edit source]

References