Orc
/ɔːrk/noun
A fictional humanoid monster, especially in fantasy literature and games.
Did you know?The Old English word *orc* appears in *Beowulf* as a kind of demon or evil being, and scholars connect it to Latin *Orcus*, the Roman god of the underworld.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃er-
“to rise; up, out (the proposed ancient root behind Latin *Orcus* is uncertain and debated)”
Latin
Latin
Orcus
“the underworld; the Roman god of the dead”
Old English
English
orc
“a demon, evil spirit, or monstrous being”
Late Middle English
English
orc
“a goblin or ogre-like monster in learned and literary usage”
Modern English
English
orc
“a fantasy monster, especially in Tolkien-inspired fiction”