sb. (a.) Also 6–8 -ite. [ad. L. tröglodyta, ad. Gr. τρωγλοδύτης, f. τρώγλη hole + δύειν to get or go into.]
1. One of various races or tribes of men (chiefly ancient or prehistoric) inhabiting caves or dens (natural or artificial); a cave-dweller, cave-man.
1555. W. Watreman, Fardle of Facions, I. vi. 93. The Troglodites myne them selues caues in the grounde, wherin to dwell.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. (1634), 52. Which Regions … (I mean that of Niger, and that of Prester John and the Troglodytes).
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 51. They were Troglodites, and had no dwelling but in the hollowes of the rocks.
1842. W. C. Taylor, Ant. Hist., xii. § 4 (ed. 3), 336. Some … Cappadocians were and continue to be Troglodytes, or dwellers in caves.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), I. ix. 251. The Troglodytes of post-pliocene ages.
2. Applied to various species of animals. † a. Some kind of deer or other horned quadruped. Obs. b. A bird of the genus Troglodytes; a wren. rare–0. c. An anthropoid ape of the genus Troglodytes, as a gorilla or chimpanzee.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Introd. The hornes, in the stagge are ramous,… the Phrygian have moveable hornes, the Troglodyte direct to the earth.
[1706. Phillips, Troglodytes or Passer Troglodytes, a little Bird call’d a Wren.]
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. VII. i. 491. The Troglodyte of Bontius, the Drill of Purchas, and the Pigmy of Tyson, have all received this general name—oran-outang.
d. Applied allusively to an animal or plant.
1817. Kirby & Sp., Entomol. (1818), II. xxi. 265. The caterpillar of another moth (Noctua subterranea, F.) … remains, a true Troglodyte,… in its cell under ground.
1845. Longf., To a Child, 99. The cavernous … homes Of wandering … tribes of ants … These hapless Troglodytes.
1856. Grindon, Life, iii. (1875), 29. That sullen troglodyte, the Lathræa, of the woods.
3. fig. A person who lives in seclusion; one unacquainted with the affairs of the world; a ‘hermit.’ Also, a dweller in a hovel or slum; a person of a degraded type like the prehistoric or savage cave-dwellers.
1854. H. Rogers, Ess., II. i. 11. Some would make him … such a very Troglodyte in metaphysics that he was not properly acquainted even with such writers as Descartes or Hobbes.
1879. G. Macdonald, in Graphic, Christmas No. 5. The girl who had been from her very birth a troglodyte, stood in the glory of a southern night.
1905. Sat. Westm. Rev., 25 Feb., 3. A belief worthy only of troglodytes inaccessible to Imperial … thought.
4. attrib. or adj. That is a troglodyte, cave-dwelling; of or belonging to a troglodyte or troglodytes.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, x. (1709), 119. Hear the words of the famous Troglodyte Philosopher.
1785. Latham, Gen. Synopsis Birds, V. 229. Troglodyte Rail…. These inhabit New Zealand.
1827. Buckingham, Trav. Mesopot., I. 58. Large caves, and smaller grottoes;… any other Troglodyte habitations.
1873. H. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., vi. 119. Aboriginal man, of troglodyte or kindred habits.
Hence (or from the L. or Gr.) Troglodytal a., pertaining to or characteristic of a troglodyte; † Troglodytan = troglodyte (sense 1); Troglodytish a., resembling or characteristic of a troglodyte; Troglodytism, the condition of a troglodyte, the habit of dwelling in caves.
1845. S. Judd, Margaret, II. i. (1871), 160. Coming up from their dark *troglodytal abodes.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 225. People of Arabia called Erembi, which some call Ichthyophagans, and *Troglodytans.
1866. Sat. Rev., 3 March, 256/2. The most perfect type of *troglodytish women does not care even for theology or religion.
1867. Chambers’ Encycl., IX. 557/1. Perhaps we shall not be far wrong if we regard *Troglodytism as the primitive state of all … mankind.
