A family of the Men of Bree. As was typical among the Men of that region, the name comes from a plant. Its precise origins are uncertain, but it is perhaps linked to honeysuckle, whose French name, chèvrefeuille, not only means 'goat leaf', but gives its name to a medieval lay, and would therefore presumably have been familiar to Tolkien.
Only one member of the Goatleaf family appears in Tolkien's works - Harry Goatleaf, who at one time watched the West-gate of Bree, but threw in his lot with Bill Ferny and Saruman's thugs during the War of the Ring.
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 11 October 2016
- This entry is complete
For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.
Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2002, 2016. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.