The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
First recorded in III 1050
Race
Divisions
Cultures
Pronunciation
koo'dook
Meaning
Derived from kûd-dûkan, 'hole-dweller'
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 29 October 2013
  • This entry is complete

Kuduk

The Westron word for those of Hobbit-kind

A word from the Westron language, used by the people of the Shire and Bree to refer to those of Halfling kind (it was, therefore, the word that Hobbits would have used to refer to themselves). It seems to have derived from an older compound, kûd-dûkan, which was still in use in Rohan and meant 'hole-dweller'.

In his 'translation' of the histories of Middle-earth, Tolkien used Old English to represent the language of the Rohirrim, and thus their kûd-dûkan became the Old English equivalent holbytla, giving rise to the more current and popular form used farther to the north: Hobbit. (It should be noted that this etymology was invented after the fact: the word 'Hobbit' came to Tolkien's imagination first, and then he devised this elaborate origin to explain it.)


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 29 October 2013
  • This entry is complete

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