Ogre
/ˈoʊ.ɡər/noun
A legendary man-eating giant or a cruel, monstrous person.
Did you know?The English word *ogre* entered through French, and many scholars connect the French form to Latin *Orcus*—the Roman underworld god whose name became associated with death, hell, and monstrous beings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃er-?
“A proposed ancient root sometimes linked by scholars to darkness or the underworld, though this connection is uncertain.”
Latin
Latin
Orcus
“The Roman god of the underworld; by extension, the realm of the dead and a punisher of oath-breakers.”
Old French
Old French
ogre
“A man-eating giant in folklore.”
14th–17th Century
French
ogre
“A monstrous cannibal giant in tales and romances.”
18th Century
English
ogre
“A giant or monster in fairy tales; later, a cruel or gluttonous person.”