English

Noun

orc ‎(plural orcs)

1. Any of several large, ferocious sea creatures, now especially the killer whale. [from 16th c.]

Translations

Etymology 2

Probably from Italian orco ‎(“man-eating giant”); later revived by J. R. R. Tolkien, partly after Old English orc ‎(“demon”).

Noun

orc ‎(plural orcs)

1. (fantasy, mythology) A mythical evil monstrous humanoid creature, usually quite aggressive. [from 17th c.]
   • 1656, Samuel Holland, Don Zara del Fogo, I.1:

     Who at one stroke didst pare away three heads from off the shoulders of an Orke, begotten by an Incubus.

   • 1834, "The National Fairy Mythology of England" in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, Vol. 10, p. 53:

     The chief exploit of the hero, Beowulf the Great, is the destruction of the two monsters Grendel and his mother; both like most of the evil beings in the old times, dwellers in the fens and the waters; and both, moreover, as some Christian bard has taken care to inform us, of "Cain's kin," as were also the eotens, and the elves, and the orcs (eótenas, and ylfe, and orcneas).

   • 1954, JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring:

     There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder. The orc fell with cloven head.

Translations

See also

• goblin
• troll

Anagrams

• cor , Cor.
• CRO
• OCR
• roc, ROC

Catalan

Noun

orc m ‎(plural orcs)

1. An orc.

Old English

Etymology 1

Compare Old Saxon ork.

Noun

orc m

1. Cup, tankard.

Etymology 2

From Latin orcus.

Noun

orc m

1. Demon.
2. ****.

Portuguese

Noun

orc m (plural orcs)

1. (fantasy) orc (evil, monstrous humanoid creature)