The Narghil Pass, also known as the Nargil Pass or Nargul Pass, was a narrow pass in Mordor going through the southern part of Ephel Dúath between Núrn and Near Harad.
The source of a southern river flowing northward into the Sea of Núrnen was located within the northern part of the Narghil Pass.
History
The Narghil Pass may have contained one of the great roads that led to Haradwaith and Rhûn where the soldiers of Barad-dûr gained possession "of goods and booty and fresh slaves" from tributary lands which they then brought back to Mordor in "long waggon-trains" along one of the great roads.
Before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Mordor-orcs used the Narghil Pass to cross into the Desert of Lostladen beyond the Harnen river, making plans with the Haradrim of Near Harad and the Corsairs of Umbar.
Etymology
Narghil, Nargil, and 'Nargul are Sindarin names with unknown meanings. It was suggested by Roman Rausch that the first element of the three names may either be the syncopated narg- from the root NÁRAK ("tear, rend") or nar- from the root NAR- ("flame, fire"), speculating that it may refer to the color red.
It was further suggested by Roman Rausch that the second element of Narghil was hîl or hil ("gorge, pass") from SKIL, an alternative root to KIL.
It was suggested by Matthew Dinse that the second element of Nargil may contain cîl ("cleft, pass between hills, gorge"), a lenited form of the root KIL. They concluded by listing that the name could possibly translate to "Rending Gorge", "Red Pass", or "Fire-Pass", with the third translation possibly being a reference to Mordor's environment.
In adaptations
The Nargil Pass appears in Middle-earth Role Playing. The source of the River Culduin is located there where it flows northward into the Sea of Núrnen.