balrog

proper name. Demon of Might

The great fire demons of Melkor, a combination of the root √BAL “power” with raug “demon” (SA/rauko, val; PE17/48).

Conceptual Development: The name G. Balrog appeared in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/93) and always kept this form in Tolkien’s writings, but its meaning and etymology evolved over time: G. “a kind of fire demon” (GL/21), ᴱN. “evil demon” (PE13/138), N. “✱Torment Demon” (Ety/ÑGWAL, RUK), an untranslated orc word (LR/404) and finally S. “Mighty Demon” (PE17/48).

Cognates

• Q. Valarauko “Demon of Might” ✧ PE17/048; PE17/048; SI/Balrog; SI/Valaraukar; S/031; WJ/415; WJI/Valarauko

balrog

demon

n. (mighty) demon. A word made in ancient S. for the spirits (of 'māyan' origin) corrupted to his service by Melkor in the days outside Arda, before the coming of the Elves and the assault uopon Utumno. Q. pl1. Valaraucar. In a draft, Tolkien presented the Balrogs as of "Valar or Maian origin" (PE17:48). >> raug

balrog

noun. demon of power

bal- (stem “cruel” [Etym. ÑGWAL-]) + raug (“powerful and hostile creature, demon”)

balrog

fire-demon

balrog (i valrog), pl. balroeg (i malroeg). Coll. pl. balrogath is attested. Archaic form *balraug. (MR:79, WJ:415). The etymological meaning is rather ”power-demon”.

balrog

fire-demon

balrog (i valrog), pl. balroeg (i malroeg), coll. pl. balrogath (MR:79). Archaic form *balraug.

balrog

fire-demon

(i valrog), pl. balroeg (i malroeg). Coll. pl. balrogath is attested. Archaic form ✱balraug. (MR:79, WJ:415). The etymological meaning is rather ”power-demon”.

raug

demon

n. demon. Q. rauca. >> Balrog

raug

demon

raug (-rog in compounds, as in Balrog), pl. roeg (idh roeg), coll. pl. #rogath (isolated from Balrogath, MR:79). Also used = ”powerful, hostile, and terrible creature”.

raug

demon

(-rog in compounds, as in Balrog), pl. roeg (idh roeg), coll. pl. #rogath (isolated from Balrogath, MR:79). Also used = ”powerful, hostile, and terrible creature”.