The Shirebourn is a lesser river of the Shire's Eastfarthing. Its source was in the uplands of the Green Hill Country, from where it flowed south and then southeast. At Willowbottom, it met the Thistle Brook, and then flowed eastwards until the Shirebourn itself met the Brandywine.
The Shirebourn flowed into the Brandywine beneath Deephallow, and at its mouth formed the boggy region known as the Overbourn Marshes, opposite the southern end of the High Hay.
Shirebourn means "Bright-stream". However, in most translations, it is translated "River of the Shire" instead.
David Salo suggested it represents a possible Old Hobbitish etymology *Scirburna "River of the Shire".
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Part of the Shire" map
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull (2008), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. lix
- ↑ David Salo, "Hobbitish Place-names" dated 23 November 1998, Elfling (accessed 2 September 2014)