[Amarie of the Vanyar]

I agree with you in that Tolkien derived orc from the old english orcneas, but this word is probably derived from latin orcus as it is said in the Oxford English Dictionary:

And J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional world in "The Lord of the Rings" is also recognized. Orcs are defined as "members of an imaginary race of ugly, aggressive human-like creatures." The dictionary says the word probably comes from the Latin orcus meaning hell, or the Italian orco, meaning monster.
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertain...030607_46.html

[ August 15, 2003: Message edited by: Amarie of the Vanyar ]