A name used by Bill Ferny as he sneered at Strider and the Hobbits on their departure from Bree. The name is in fact related to Aragorn's other name in Bree, 'Strider' (and was said to be one of many insulting names that Bill Ferny had heard for Strider). Shank in this sense means 'leg', so 'Longshanks' means simply 'long-legs', and relates to his considerable height and the long length of his stride. Indeed, Aragorn's descent from the famously tall Dúnedain would have made him considerably taller than most of the Men of Bree.
Notes
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The name 'Longshanks' is not an invention of Tolkien's, but a real (albeit somewhat archaic) name used for long-legged individuals. It was most famously used for King Edward I of England (1239-1307), who was commonly known as 'Edward Longshanks'. |
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- Updated 17 June 2023
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