Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

In The History of the Hobbit, I read that Tolkien used another word for bone ( fish-bones) when describing what Gollum had in his pockets. The word was hard to make out, but Christopher believed it was a four-letter word that started with the letter p and guessed it to be the word, pins?.

Pin bones aren't really bones, technically speaking. They're actually calcified ligaments that are found in larger species of fish like salmon.

That sounds right thought the way you put it is a bit mangled. The editor, btw, is John Rateliff not CT, and as you say he suggests the original word instead of 'bone' may have been pin. But that does not give us 'pin bones' but 'fish pins'.

However, googling 'fish pins' arrives at the definition you give for 'pin bones'.

Oops, Rateliff. I am so used to reading Christopher's name.

The link was just an example that, fish-pins may have fit, too. Although it would not have read the same way, I suppose.

This is all very interesting. But according to the authorities, with your guess you have accepted my question as a riddle.

So I have neither fish pins nor pin bones in my pocket.

Try again

Air?

Thought that you would have done better than Gollum did in this situation. Technically, that is correct. Unfortunately, it is not the answer that I am looking for.

Try again.

"Pocket-handkerchief, or Thorin's letter!" shrieked Drifa, which was not quite fair — workinging two guesses at once. But she didn't care. The dragon was rude. He deserved a shriek in the ear now and again.

"So, what has it got in its pocketses?"

No and no. I have not owned a pocket handkerchief since I was around 6 years old. I do have a dim memory of owning one. They are a good thing and it is a shame they have gone out of fashion. As for Thorin's letter... Why would I have such a thing in my pocket?

Also, I am not rude!

Oh, I see; you are not Middle-earth related, eh?
I don't really know then, but I will guess clothes pegs? You have been, and don't get me wrong, complaining about hanging laundry lately, have you not?

No, I do not use clothes pegs. I hang the laundry on a drying rack. Incidentally, the big news here last week was that a second laundry hanger arrived because one of the two old ones was busted. I was very excited but on unwrapping it turned out to be broken.

Btw, the secret of life, or so I think, is to be happy in what you cannot escape. So while it may be true that I have in the past grumbled over the sheer volume and mindlessness of my laundry duties, my aim these days is to enjoy it, even to take pride in its mysteries. There is a fascinating variation in the rate at which different items of clothing dry. One might think that the thick heavy items would take longer, but that is not always the way of it.

Back to business. I feel that this riddle is not going anywhere fast. I may offer a clue soon.

No clothesline? Ah, that is too bad. Nothing is fresher than the smell of line-dried laundry, especially bedding. I, too, have a clothes rack now that I live in the city. I also have a dryer for work clothes—all cheap clothing for the mines that don't mind being tossed and sanitized in a barrel.

This is a pretty strange riddle, dragon. And yes, it may not go anywhere fast, as it could be a million different things. But seeing as you thought I would have done better than Gollum, do you have a ring in your pocket?

How about your hand? Is that what you have in your pocket?

What about the hippy dippy music thread hint? You know the answer, surely?

Oh, that was a hint? I thought you were just being nice to me that day. I did enjoy the song, though. Thanks for the hint.

What has it got in its pocketses? A hole?

Drifa wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:02 am What has it got in its pocketses? A hole?

Correct. Knew you would get there eventually.

Btw, on a totally different note, that new member you talked the meaning of names with is a bot! Scary but true. I guess bots just got more intelligent.

Bah, intelligent bots!!! I was communicating with it. Scary!

Thanks, dragon!

What has two legs but doesn't walk?

A pair of trousers?

Hahaha, I can't remember what it was. But trousers sound like a good answer. You're up if you like, @Romeran.

Since @Romeran hasn't been on in a little while, I'll step in and drop a new riddle over here.

"Silent and secret, swift and unknown.
Ancient and different, unique and alone."

Unfortunately the answer is not a kind of frog, Aikári.

Is it the Watcher in the Water?

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
And it is not the Watcher in the Water.

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
And it is not something made of stone.

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
It is not something made of stone.
it does indeed have something to do with Lord of the Rings & Middle-Earth.

is it a kind of liquid?

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
It is not something made of stone.
It does have something to do with Lord of the Rings & Middle-Earth.
It is not a kind of liquid.
And it is not made of wood.

My tree is officially twisted by this riddle. Is it wind or made of air?

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
It is not something made of stone.
It does have something to do with Lord of the Rings & Middle-Earth.
It is not a kind of liquid.
It is not made of wood.
It is not wind.
Nor is it made of air.

I will be kind and drop a hint. It is something created, but not a physical creation.

Time?

Good guess, Tobold.
@Merewyn, is it the Ancient Darkness, The Void?

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
It is not something made of stone.
It does have something to do with Lord of the Rings & Middle-Earth.
It is not a kind of liquid.
It is not made of wood.
It is not wind.
It is not made of air.
It is not time (though a good guess, I can see your thinking there!).
It is not the Void either.

I will give another hint, that it is related to the Dwarves!

Is it the Secret Fire?

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
It is not something made of stone.
It does have something to do with Lord of the Rings & Middle-Earth.
It is not a kind of liquid.
It is not made of wood.
It is not wind.
It is not made of air.
It is not time (though a good guess, I can see your thinking there!).
It is not the Void.
It is not the Abyss below the Bridge of Khazad-dum.
And it is also not the Secret Fire either.

It is something created but is not a physical object, it is related to the Dwarves, and while it is not a physical object it requires physical movement to use.

Not giving up lol. Is it the spell on the gates of Moria that requires you to physically move your mouth to speak "Mellon" to make it open?

*bumps the riddle thread*
Good guess,@Tobold! I will guess, Ithildin, the substance used with silver pens to create Moon-letters? What do you say, @Merewyn?

[Those are both very good guesses, but unfortunately not it.

It is not a kind of frog,
Nor is it alive,
It is not the Watcher in the Water,
It is not something made of stone.
It does have something to do with Lord of the Rings & Middle-Earth.
It is not a kind of liquid.
It is not made of wood.
It is not wind.
It is not made of air.
It is not time (though a good guess, I can see your thinking there!).
It is not the Void.
It is not the Abyss below the Bridge of Khazad-dum.
It is not the Secret Fire.
It is not the spell on the Gates of Moria.
It is also not the Ithildin on the Gates of Moria.

@Drífa you are on the right track with the thought of language.

So, it is something created but is not a physical object, it is related to the Dwarves, it is not a physical object but requires physical movement to use, and is related to language/speech.

Are you an alphabet, specifically, Angerthas Moria, which the dwarves of Erebor also used?

Bah, I just realized that is not the answer you are looking for. The word swift in your riddle pointed me to another hint which I had totally forgotten about. I will wait a day or two to see if someone else figures it out.

Hi @Merewyn! Is it Iglishmek, the dwarvish sign language?