Mithril is the fictional metal prized by the Dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Its name comes from Sindarin and is commonly explained as meaning “grey glitter.”
In The Lord of the Rings, mithril is associated especially with the mines of Moria. Bilbo Baggins receives a mithril coat from Thorin’s company, and Frodo later wears it during the journey. The coat is light but exceptionally protective, helping save Frodo from a fatal spear thrust.
Mithril is often treated as Tolkien’s equivalent of an indestructible fantasy metal, but Tolkien’s descriptions emphasize its lightness, strength, beauty, and rarity. It is not the same substance as ithildin, a reflective material used in inscriptions and hidden markings.