Arthedain » Orcs

Yrch

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:01:41 +0000

The Sindarin name for the race known to Men as Orcs. ‘Yrch’is the plural form; the singular is ‘orch’.

Uruks

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:57:43 +0000

A term for the large soldiers more fully referred to as Uruk-hai

Uruk-hai

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:57:41 +0000

The great soldier-Orcs that first appeared in the late Third Age; they were larger and stronger than their forebears, and could withstand the light of the Sun.

Uglúk

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:57:09 +0000

An uruk in the service of Saruman, the leader of the orc-band that captured Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took at Parth Galen.

Ufthak

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:57:08 +0000

An Orc in the service of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, under the command of Shagrat. He disappeared for several days, but was eventually discovered by his fellow Orcs; he had been poisoned by Shelob, and wound in her webs. When he was found, he had recovered from the poison and was fully awake. Unsure whether Shelob meant to return for her prize, the Orcs of the Tower chose to leave Ufthak to his fate.

Snaga

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:51:32 +0000

A contemptuous term for the lesser Orcs of Mordor and Isengard, used especially among the larger and stronger Uruk-hai. It comes from a word in the Black Speech meaning ‘slave’.

Shagrat

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:50:29 +0000

The Uruk commanding the Tower of Cirith Ungol in the Ephel Dúath, who captured Frodo Baggins during the War of the Ring.

Radbug

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:47:06 +0000

An Orc of the Tower of Cirith Ungol in the service of Shagrat. After the battle in the Tower between Shagrat’s garrison and the rebellious Orcs under Gorbag’s command, Shagrat was left grievously wounded, and Radbug attempted to take advantage of his commander’s weakened state. We are not told precisely what his offence was, but we do know his punishment: despite his wounds, Shagrat still had the strength to squeeze out Radbug’s eyes.

Orcs

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:44:54 +0000

Little is known for certain of the beginnings of the Orcs, the footsoldiers of the Enemy. It is said that they were in origin corrupted Elves captured by Melkor before the beginning of the First Age. In appearance, Orcs were squat, swarthy creatures. Most of them preferred the darkness, being blinded by the light of the Sun, but the kinds bred later in the Third Age such as the Uruk-hai could endure the daylight.

Hobgoblins

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:30:19 +0000

” Orc is not an English word. It occurs in one or two places but is usually translated goblin (or hobgoblin for the larger kinds) ”
Preface to The Hobbit

A name for the larger kinds of Orc found in Middle-earth in the Third Age. The term perhaps, but doubtfully, refers to the large soldier-orcs known as Uruks.

The term appears so rarely that there is little clear basis for a definition. Its only other occurrence is later in The Hobbit (7, Queer Lodgings) where Gandalf warns Bilbo that the Grey Mountains are ‘simply stiff with goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs of the worst description’.