You are correct, I did not provide clarity with regard to your question; Tolkien uses both meanings interchangeably.
For instance:
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Now when Turgon learned of the breaking of the leaguer of Angband...
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Here, it is clear he is using it as a noun in place of the word 'siege'. This is confirmed one sentence later:
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But he believed that the ending of the Siege was the beginning of the downfall of the Noldor...
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Yet, little later:
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For unsummoned and unlooked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army ten thousand strong, with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest.
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Here, in my opinion, Tolkien uses the word to mean military camp' or perhaps more relevantly, 'barracks'. You have to examine the context. Hope this helps.
[ July 23, 2002: Message edited by: Stephanos ]