| troglodyte | 1. <ethnology> One of any savage race that dwells in caves, instead of constructing dwellings; a cave dweller. most of the primitive races of man were troglodytes. "In the troglodytes' country there is a lake, for the hurtful water it beareth called the "mad lake."" (Holland) 2. <zoology> A genus of apes including the chimpanzee. 3. <ornithology> A genus of singing birds including the common wrens. Origin: L. Troglodytae, pl, Gr. One who creeps into holes; a hole, cavern (fr. To gnaw) + enter: cf. F. Troglodyte. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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