The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Uncertain, but probably dated back as far as the founding of Gondor in II 3320
Origins
A debased form of tarkil, 'High Man', an Elvish word adopted via Westron
Race
Used by Orcs to describe a division of Men
Division
Culture
Related particularly to the Gondorians
Pronunciation
tar'ks
Meaning
A shortening of tarkil, 'High Man', referring to the Dúnedain and especially the Men of Gondor
Other names
Tarkil; equivalent to Dúnadan and its synonyms

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 6 March 2023
  • This entry is complete

Tarks

A name for the Gondorians

" 'There's a great fighter about, one of those bloody-handed Elves, or one of the filthy tarks.' "
Words of Snaga the Orc
The Return of the King VI 1
The Tower of Cirith Ungol

A name used among the Orcs to describe the Men of Gondor. 'Tark' was a corruputed version of Tarkil, a Westron borrowing from Quenya that literally meant 'High Man', but was used in the Common Speech to describe Men of Númenórean heritage. To the Orcs of the later Third Age, such Men would always be enemies, and so the word tark tended to be used in an insulting way, as in the comment quoted above.


See also...

Tarkil

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 6 March 2023
  • This entry is complete

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