"Estolad" means "encampment" ("esto" is probably related to "osto" or "otso", "fortress" and "lad" means plain -- "fortress on the plain" or something like that).

I would say that Estolad was indeed a town -- or, at least, a town developed there. The Edain lived in Estolad for nearly 150 years before it was overrun in the Dagor Bragollach's aftermath (see "The Ruin Of Beleriand").

One of the interesting things about Estolad is that the Council of the Edain was held there. This is my name for the event where the leaders of the Beorians and Marachians debated whether to stay in Beleriand after they learned about the War of the Jewels.

Michael

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