dwarf
/dwɔːrf/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*dwergaz — stunted being
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person, animal, or plant much below the usual size for its species.
- A legendary being in Germanic folklore, typically described as small, misshapen, and living underground.
Literal older meaning
stunted or undeveloped being
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
dweorg
Earliest period
8th century
Journey
In early Germanic mythology, dwarfs were artisans and smiths living in the earth. The association with small stature became dominant in later folklore, shifting from supernatural beings to a general term for biological stunting.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*dwergaz
“stunted, deformed creature”
- Old English
dweorg
“dwarf, spirit”
Used in medical texts to refer to the cause of certain illnesses.
- Middle English
dwarf
“small person or being”
Connections
Word parts
dwarf
root
stunted creature
Related across languages
Old Norse
dvergr
dwarf
German
Zwerg
dwarf
Explore next
Related to dwarf
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.