the Seven the rings of the Dwarves, cursed by Sauron.
sloe the purple fruit of the blackthorn tree, similar to a plum.
slot the trail of an animal.
sluice an artificial watercourse, or the gate that regulates it.
smials tunnels.
smote attacked, especially to kill or severely injure.
sortie a raid or foray, particularly of troops coming out from a defensive position.
spinney a small woodland.
stonecrop a creeping evergreen sedum with yellow flowers.
stud a male breeding horse.
sword-thain a military retainer or servant.
tamarisk a narrow-leaved desert shrub or tree.
terebinth a small tree that yields turpentine.
the Third Age the time of the story, beginning with the Isildur's defeat of Sauron and ending with the destruction of the One Ring.
the Three the rings of the elves, never touched by Sauron.
tilth cultivated land.
tor hill.
trowels hand tools for spreading mortar.
turves plural of turf; pieces of sod grass.
unsullied unsoiled, clean, pure.
Uruk-hai name of the orcs of Saruman; they have human blood, are especially large, and can endure daylight.
