Orc

Orc (pronounced /ˈɔrk/) is a word used to refer to various races of tough and warlike humanoid creatures in various fantasy settings. Orcs are often portrayed as misshapen humanoids who are brutal, warmongering, and sadistic. Conversely, some settings and writers describe them as a proud warrior race with a strong sense of honor (for example, Morgan Howell's Queen of the Orcs). They are variously portrayed as physically stronger or weaker than hu... more

Orc (pronounced /ˈɔrk/) is a word used to refer to various races of tough and warlike humanoid creatures in various fantasy settings. Orcs are often portrayed as misshapen humanoids who are brutal, warmongering, and sadistic. Conversely, some settings and writers describe them as a proud warrior race with a strong sense of honor (for example, Morgan Howell's Queen of the Orcs). They are variously portrayed as physically stronger or weaker than humans, but always high in numbers. They often ride boars, wolves and wargs. In many role-playing and computer games, though not in Tolkien's works, Orcs mainly have green skin (earning the name "Greenskins" in such games as Warhammer Fantasy). The modern use of the English word "orc" to denote a race of evil, humanoid creatures begins with J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien's earliest elvish dictionaries include the entry "Ork (orq-) monster, ogre, demon" together with "orqindi ogresse." Tolkien sometimes used the plural form orqui in his early texts.... less