Thangail, or shield-fence, was a shield-wall formation invented by the Númenóreans and mostly used by the Dúnedain of Middle-earth.
It served as a technique for resisting an attacking enemy. Soldiers would form two closely-packed ranks that would act as shield-walls. These ranks of soldiers would be bent backward adjusting for the enemy’s charge, keeping either end from being outflanked, and then becoming a closed ring of unbroken shields that would continue fending off the assault.
In the Disaster of the Gladden Fields, Isildur, realizing that he could not do anything else because the ground didn't work in his favor was forced to use this battle tactic for defense, but was overwhelmed in the end.[1]
Etymology[]
Thangail is the Sindarin translation of the Quenya sandastan, which was derived from the primitive forms thandā, meaning 'shield', and stama, meaning 'bar'. The Sindarin word c(g)ail meant 'fence'.[citation needed]
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Hebrew | תאנגאיל |
| Hindi | तंगाइल |
| Tamil | தஙைல் |