Glamhoth

Glamhoth is a Sindarin word for Orcs. Literally, it means "the dinhorde, the yelling horde", and is a descriptive term referring to the loud and barbarous speech of the Orcs.

Etymology

The first part, glam, means "barbaric speech", and is an expansion of lam, "tongue, language". An individual within the group is referred to as a glamog, and glam appears in Glamdring. The second element, hoth is a common suffix to denote a collection of people.

Phrases

• "Gurth an Glamhoth!" (Death to the Orcs!)

Commentary

Throughout history, populations have always considered the languages of other peoples inferior, or uncouth to the ears. The term "Barbarian" originally meant "brabbler". Similarly, Germany is called "Land of the Mute", "land of those who do not speak our tongue" in some Slavic countries. A similar pattern is found in Adûnaic, where the word for "shout" (rûkh) is related to the words for "Orc", uruk.

References

• The Lost Road and Other Writings, The Etymologies.
• The War of the Jewels, Quendi and Eldar.
• Hiswelókë Sindarin Dictionary, by Didier Willis.
• Adûnaic at Ardalambion