Duergar (Folklore)
Encyclopedia
The Simonside Dwarfs also known as Brownmen, Bogles
and Duergar are a race of ugly dwarfs, particularly associated with the Simonside Hills
of Northumberland
, in northern England. Their leader was said to be known as Roarie
.
In F Grice's telling of the traditional story The Duergar in Folk Tales of the North Country (1944), one of them is described as being short, wearing a lambskin coat, moleskin trousers and shoes, and a hat made of moss stuck with a feather.
The legendary dwarfs of Simonside were mentioned in the local newspaper, the Morpeth Gazette, in 1889, and in Tyndale’s Legends and Folklore of Northumbria, 1930. They delighted in leading travellers astray, especially after dark, often carrying lighted torches to lead them into bogs, rather like Will-o'-the-wisp
s
. The menacing creatures would often disappear at dawn.
The word duergar is likely to be derieved from the Old Norse
word for dwarf or dwarfs (dvergar), however it may also come from the dialectual words for "dwarf" on the Anglo-Scottish border
which include dorch, dwerch, duerch, Duergh and Duerwe amongst others with the added Norse -ar plural. These Border words for "dwarf", like the Standard English
form, all derive from the Old English dweorh or dweorg via the Middle English
dwerg.
Bogles
Bogles is a town on the island of Carriacou in Grenada....
and Duergar are a race of ugly dwarfs, particularly associated with the Simonside Hills
Simonside Hills
The Simonside Hills are a hill range in Northumberland, England near the town of Rothbury. Most of the hills are around to high and are popular spots for hikers in the area...
of Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, in northern England. Their leader was said to be known as Roarie
.
In F Grice's telling of the traditional story The Duergar in Folk Tales of the North Country (1944), one of them is described as being short, wearing a lambskin coat, moleskin trousers and shoes, and a hat made of moss stuck with a feather.
The legendary dwarfs of Simonside were mentioned in the local newspaper, the Morpeth Gazette, in 1889, and in Tyndale’s Legends and Folklore of Northumbria, 1930. They delighted in leading travellers astray, especially after dark, often carrying lighted torches to lead them into bogs, rather like Will-o'-the-wisp
Will-o'-the-wisp
A will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus , also called a "will-o'-wisp", "jack-o'-lantern" , "hinkypunk", "corpse candle", "ghost-light", "spook-light", "fairy light", "friar's lantern", "hobby lantern", "ghost orb", or simply "wisp", is a ghostly light or lights sometimes seen at night or twilight over...
s
. The menacing creatures would often disappear at dawn.
The word duergar is likely to be derieved from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word for dwarf or dwarfs (dvergar), however it may also come from the dialectual words for "dwarf" on the Anglo-Scottish border
Anglo-Scottish border
The Anglo-Scottish border is the official border and mark of entry between Scotland and England. It runs for 154 km between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. It is Scotland's only land border...
which include dorch, dwerch, duerch, Duergh and Duerwe amongst others with the added Norse -ar plural. These Border words for "dwarf", like the Standard English
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
form, all derive from the Old English dweorh or dweorg via the Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
dwerg.
See also
- Simonside HillsSimonside HillsThe Simonside Hills are a hill range in Northumberland, England near the town of Rothbury. Most of the hills are around to high and are popular spots for hikers in the area...
- ElfElfAn elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
- English mythology
- Norse dwarves (Dvergar)
- Norse MythologyNorse mythologyNorse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...