"Hobbit" is a condensed form of the Rohan word "holbytla" which means "hole builder" This term was orginally given to the harfoots by the fallohides and stoors. Hobbits at one time spoke Rohan.
There are three "breeds" of hobbits: Fallohides, Stoors, and Harfoots. They often mix. Harfoots are browner of skin, smaller, and shorter, they prefer highlands and hillsides. ( Sam is 100% Harfoot)
Stoors are broader, heavier in build, lager hands and feet, prefer flat lands and riversides. (Smeagollum was a Stoor of the Gladden fields)
Fallohides are fairer of skin and hair, taller and slimmer than others, prefer trees and woodlands.
"Even in Bilbo's time the strong Fallohidish strain could still be noted among the greater families, such as the Tooks and the Masters of Buckland." that is why Gandalf describes mae as taller than some, fairer than most. I have Harfoot in me (Baggins) Stoor (Bucklanders have some Stoor in them, they are related th the folk of the Marish, which are rather Stoorish) and Fallohide (Brandybuck, Took, Bolger)
Sam looks really brown next to me.
[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: Frodo Baggins ]
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"I'm your huckleberry....that's just my game."
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