Dwarf

This page is about a mythological race. For other meanings see Dwarf (disambiguation).

In Norse mythology, fairy tales, and sword and sorcery fiction and role-playing games, a dwarf is a member of a humanoid race, much like humans, but generally living underground or in mountainous areas. The mountain echoes are the mingled sounds of their voices as they mock the cries of the wanderer, and the fissures of the rocks are the entrances to their subterranean abodes. Here they have heaped up countless treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones, and here they pass their time in fabricating costly armor. They are famed miners and smiths though, like humans, specialize in any number of trades. Generally shorter than humans, they are on average stockier and hairier, usually sporting a full beard.

Traditionally, the plural of dwarf was "dwarfs" (especially when referring to actual humans with the medical condition) but ever since J. R. R. Tolkien used dwarves in his fantasy-epic The Lord of the Rings, the plural forms "dwarfs" and "dwarves" have been used interchangeably. (When discussing Tolkien's universe, though, only the latter should be used.)

Dwarves are long-lived, living at least four times the age of man, but are not prolific breeders, having children rarely and spaced far apart. Dwarvish children are cherished by their parents, and are defended at all costs from their traditional enemies, such as giantss, goblins, and orcs. A longstanding enmity between dwarves and elves is also a staple of the racial conception.

Dwarves are famed smiths, creating some of the greatest and most powerful items of power in the distant past, such as in Norse mythology the chain which bound the Fenris wolf. In some stories the dwarves were cursed as a result of these works, and they now have few or no mages within their ranks. Dwarves are implacable foes, with terrific endurance, strength, and determination. They tend to use heavy armour, large axes, and rarely give up. In some tales, for example those of J. R. R. Tolkien, dwarves are also especially resistant to fire. Dwarves in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game are directly derived from Tolkien's dwarves, although many variants exist, such as the hairless, desert-dwelling dwarves of the Dark Sun campaign setting. See also: Norse dwarves, svartalfar, dark elves, Dwarves (Middle-earth) and Dwarfs (Discworld).

The placename terms "terp", "thorpe" and "dorf" are etymologically related to "dwarf".