Gorcrows: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Gorcrows.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Excerpt from illustration by [[Alan Lee]]]]
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[[Image:Alan Lee - Gorcrows.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Alan Lee]] - ''Gorcrows'']]
'''Gorcrows''' were a legendary species of birds, only mentioned in passing in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] verse. These foul [[crows]], who croaked in their sleep, are said to have lived in the same damp marshes as the fearsome [[Mewlips]].<ref>{{AB|Mewlips}}</ref>
'''Gorcrows''' were a legendary species of birds, only mentioned in passing in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] verse. These foul [[crows]], who croaked in their sleep, are said to have lived in the same damp marshes as the fearsome [[Mewlips]].<ref>{{AB|Mewlips}}</ref>
<small>{{quote|And gloomily the gorcrows stand<br /> Croaking in their sleep.|[[The Mewlips]]}}</small>
<small>{{quote|And gloomily the gorcrows stand<br /> Croaking in their sleep.|[[The Mewlips]]}}</small>
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Gorcrow'', "gore crow", is an [[old English]] name for [[Wikipedia:Carrion Crow|carrion crow]].<ref>Patrick J. Cassidy, ed. (1913), ''Webster Dictionary''</ref>   
''Gorcrow'', "gore crow", is an [[old English]] name for [[Wikipedia:Carrion Crow|carrion crow]].<ref>Patrick J. Cassidy, ed. (1913), ''Webster Dictionary''</ref>   


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:''Gorcrows'' are said to have 4 ft. wingspan and to be smaller cousins of the [[crebain]],<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref> and to be attracted to shiny things (a common character trait of crows, [[wikipedia:Common Raven|ravens]], [[wikipedia:European Magpie|magpies]] and [[wikipedia:Jackdaw|jackdaws]], for example).<ref>{{ICE|8014}}, p. 6</ref> The ''northern gorcrow'', living in [[Forodwaith (lands)|Forodwaith]], is described as a larger version of the common gorcrow. The [[Lossoth]] are said to regard the norhern gorcrows as birds of ill-omen.<ref>{{ICE|2025}}</ref>
:''Gorcrows'' are said to have 4 ft. wingspan and to be smaller cousins of the ''[[crebain]]'',<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref> and to be attracted to shiny things.<ref group="note">A common character trait of crows, [[wikipedia:Common Raven|ravens]], [[wikipedia:European Magpie|magpies]] and [[wikipedia:Jackdaw|jackdaws]], for example.</ref><ref>{{ICE|8014}}, p. 6</ref> The ''northern gorcrow'', living in [[Forodwaith (lands)|Forodwaith]], is described as a larger version of the common gorcrow. The [[Lossoth]] are said to regard the northern gorcrows as birds of ill-omen.<ref>{{ICE|2025}}</ref>
 
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:''Gore-crows'' are a type of crebain native to the [[Lone-lands]]. They also appear in great number in Mordor.


{{references}}
{{references|note}}
{{Legend}}
{{Legend}}
[[Category:Birds]]
[[Category:Birds]]
[[fi:Vaakut]]
[[fi:Vaakut]]

Latest revision as of 03:28, 17 March 2023

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Alan Lee - Gorcrows

Gorcrows were a legendary species of birds, only mentioned in passing in Hobbit verse. These foul crows, who croaked in their sleep, are said to have lived in the same damp marshes as the fearsome Mewlips.[1]

"And gloomily the gorcrows stand
Croaking in their sleep.
"
The Mewlips

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Gorcrow, "gore crow", is an old English name for carrion crow.[2]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Gorcrows are said to have 4 ft. wingspan and to be smaller cousins of the crebain,[3] and to be attracted to shiny things.[note 1][4] The northern gorcrow, living in Forodwaith, is described as a larger version of the common gorcrow. The Lossoth are said to regard the northern gorcrows as birds of ill-omen.[5]

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Gore-crows are a type of crebain native to the Lone-lands. They also appear in great number in Mordor.

Notes

  1. A common character trait of crows, ravens, magpies and jackdaws, for example.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Mewlips"
  2. Patrick J. Cassidy, ed. (1913), Webster Dictionary
  3. Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012)
  4. John Crowdis (1990), Rogues of the Borderlands (#8014), p. 6
  5. Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025)
Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow