uruk-hai

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional epic, "The Lord of the Rings," the Uruk-hai (Black Speech meaning Orc folk) were a new breed of Orcs that appeared during the Third Age. They were faster and stronger than their forebearers, and had the ability to travel in daylight. They are often mistaken to be a cross between Orcs and Elves, when in fact, Orcs are themselves transformed Elves--the purest form of life on Arda--who were captured and corrupted through torture and mutilation by Melkor in the First Age. Another common misconception is that they are a crossbreed of Orcs and Goblin Men; however, the term "Goblin" is synonymous with "Orc." Their exact origin is not precisely known, but it is suggested (and usually agreed) that they are the result of crossbreeding Orcs and Men, *hence* "Goblin-Men."