troglodyte

WOTD - 19 April 2007    

English

Etymology

From Latin trōglodyta (“cave dwelling people”), from Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (trōglodutēs, “one who dwells in holes”), from τρώγλη (trōglē, “hole”) + δύω (duō, “I get into”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈtɹɒɡlədaɪt/, /ˈtɹɒɡləʊdaɪt/
• (US) IPA: /ˈtrɑɡlədaɪt/, /ˈtrɑɡloʊdaɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

troglodyte (plural troglodytes)

1. A member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes, a caveman.
2. (by extension) Anything that lives underground.

   The cave was populated by albino scorpions, blind salamanders, and other troglodytes.

3. A reclusive, reactionary or out-of-date person, especially if brutish.
4. (computing) A person who chooses not to keep up-to-date with the latest software and hardware.

Derived terms

• Pan troglodytes
• troglodytic
• trog

Translations

member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves

Dutch: Holbewoner m., Holenmens m. (rare) Estonian: koopaelanik (et) French: troglodyte (fr) m.

Galician: troglodita (gl) m. and f. German: Höhlenmensch m., Troglodyt m. (rare)

anything that lives underground

French: troglodyte (fr) m. and f.

Spanish: troglodita (es) m. and f.

a reclusive or out-of-date person, especially brutish

Polish: troglodyta (pl) m.

Spanish: troglodita (es) m. and f.

person who chooses not to keep up-to-date