I'm rereading Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" these days, and I came across two words very near each other that I've never seen (ever!) in any other context.

I looked them up of course...a 'hythe' is described simply as 'a haven,' and 'fosse' seems to be an exact synonym of 'moat.'

Is this a mysterious hole in my vocabulary? Are these words in common use in other, maybe specialized, areas? And how are they pronounced...I presume 'hythe' rhymes with 'writhe' and 'lithe,' but does 'fosse,' along with the famous choreographer, rhyme with 'bossy?'

Puzzled in Maryland....