Troglodyte \Trog"lo*dyte\, n. [L. troglodytae, pl., Gr. ? one who creeps into holes; ? a hole, cavern (fr. ? to gnaw) + ? enter: cf. F. troglodyte.]

1. (Ethnol.) 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. (Zo["o]l.) An anthropoid ape, as the chimpanzee.

3. (Zo["o]l.) The wren.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)