Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1954, an invented word by English author J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973).
Wiktionary
n. (context fantasy English) A fictional silvery metal of great strength and value, primarily in fantasy and role-playing settings.
Wikipedia
Mithril is a fictional metal found in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, being present in his Middle-earth, and also appearing in many other works of derivative fantasy. It is described as resembling silver but being stronger and lighter than steel. The author first wrote of it in The Lord of the Rings, and it is retrospectively mentioned in the third, revised edition of The Hobbit in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo Baggins is described as being made of "silvered steel".
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien wrote that mithril is found only in the mines of Moria beneath the Misty Mountains, where it was mined by the Dwarves. Unfinished Tales alleges that it is also found in Númenor.
The name mithril comes from two words in Tolkien's fictional language of Sindarin—mith, meaning "grey" or "mist", and ril meaning "glitter".
Mithril is a Celtic music / World music quartet located in Mobile, Alabama in the Southeastern United States. Their music combines traditional melodies from many Celtic nations, the Middle East, and around the world.
Generally, Mithril refers to a fictional metal from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings.
Mithril or mythril may also refer to:
- Mithril (band), a Celtic music / World music quartet
- Mithril (Full Metal Panic!), fictional paramilitary organization in Full Metal Panic! series
- Mithril (JavaScript), a frontend JavaScript MVC library
- Mithril Capital Management, an investment company
- Mithril Technology, a technology outsourcing company
Usage examples of "mithril".
I watched the preparations unfolding at Mithril Hall, preparations for war, for, though we, especially Catti-brie, had dealt House Baenre a stinging defeat back in Menzoberranzan, none of us doubted that the dark elves might come our way once more.
He asked for no help in the decision-making, and needed none, for this was Bruenor, Eighth King of Mithril Hall, a veteran of so many adventures, a dwarf who had earned his title.
Bruenor, his fiery red beard foamed with spittle, instead took up a tirade about Settlestone, the barbarian settlement south of Mithril Hall.
Catti-brie asked, referring to the magical wrist bands, wide pieces of black material lined with gleaming mithril rings.
She had forged an alliance between the warlike houses of the drow city, a joining solidified by the promise of new glory when the drow army conquered Mithril Hall.
On a necklace about her neck she kept a ring carved from the tooth of an ancient dwarven king, one Gandalug Battlehammer, patron of Clan Battle-hammer, founder of Mithril Hall.
Catti-brie asked as she and Drizzt made their way along the lower levels of Mithril Hall.
This was the heart of Mithril Hall, a huge, open cavern cut into gigantic steps on both its east and west walls, so that the whole place resembled an inverted pyramid.
Rarely in the long history of Mithril Hall had the Undercity seen this kind of excitement.
Like him, she wore a fine mesh armor suit of thin but incredibly strong mithril rings, custom fitted to her by Buster Bracer, the finest armorer in mithril Hall.
Catti-brie did not know this little-used section of Mithril Hall very well.
She did not doubt the military value of the brigade-Pwent could outfight anyone in Mithril Hall, except for Drizzt and maybe Bruenor, but the notion of a bunch of little Thibbledorf Pwents running around surely turned her stomach!
They thought of Aegis-fang, the most beautiful of weapons, the flanks of its gleaming mithril head inscribed with the sacred runes of the dwarven gods.
When Drizzt and Catti-brie had gone to Menzoberranzan-Drizzt to end the threat to Mithril Hall, Catti-brie to find Drizzt-Regis had taken command to spur grieving Bruenor into preparing for war.
The mirth subsided as Drizzt took out the figurine and bade Guenhwyvar farewell, promising to call the panther back as soon as he and Catti-brie were on the trails once more, heading back to Mithril Hall.