Well, 'hews off' is a little exaggerated as well. Morgoth walked with a serious limp afterwards (Tolkien apparently meant for this to be the 'origin story' of the devil's alleged lame foot). However, after this fight (and realizing how close he had come to losing), Morgoth NEVER stood and fought again. Fingolfin succeeded in turning a god, perhaps the most powerful of them all, into a coward.
Well, 'hews off' is a little exaggerated as well. Morgoth walked with a serious limp afterwards (Tolkien apparently meant for this to be the 'origin story' of the devil's alleged lame foot). However, after this fight (and realizing how close he had come to losing), Morgoth NEVER stood and fought again. Fingolfin succeeded in turning a god, perhaps the most powerful of them all, into a coward.