Mithril is an apocryphal metal invented by J. R. R. Tolkien, which goggle-eyed little hobbits hide under in Lord of the Rings. It supposedly of Elvish origin. Resembling silver but being stronger and lighter than steel — so light, allegedly, the user doesn’t feel its weight — it is very adaptable and can easily be forged into a McGuffin. For example, if you throw it over yourself when the Nazgûl ride by they won’t see you because you will look exactly like a rock.[1]

The Jolly Contrarian’s Glossary
The snippy guide to financial services lingo.™
A cheeky little hobbit hiding yesterday.
Index — Click the ᐅ to expand:
Tell me more
Sign up for our newsletter — or just get in touch: for ½ a weekly 🍺 you get to consult JC. Ask about it here.

Contrary to popular belief, client money is not made of mithril. Nor are legal opinions. For absolute certain, none of the views expressed on this site are either. Yes, that’s another disclaimer, by the way.

See also

References

  1. My senior LOTR consultant tells me this was not a mithril cloak at all, but an ordinary grey elven cloak, given to the cheeky little hobbits by the elven queen Phyllis Schlafly. Don’t care.