ogre
n. countablen. a large, scary monster from old stories that eats people. You can also use this to describe a person who is very mean or cruel.
n. a giant, hideous monster from folklore and mythology, typically depicted as man-eating. In a metaphorical sense, refers to a person who is perceived as cruel, overbearing, or frightening.
The brave knight fought the giant ogre.
In many fairy tales, the hero must outsmart a hungry ogre to escape the dark forest.
The department head was often described as a corporate ogre, known for his terrifying temper and his habit of dismissing subordinates for the smallest of errors.
First attested in the 18th century, borrowed from French ogre, from Latin Orcus (“god of the underworld”), from Ancient Greek Ὅρκος (Hórkos), the personified demon of oaths (ὅρκος (hórkos, “oath”)) who inflicts punishment upon oath-breakers. Doublet of orc and Orcus.
Commonly used figuratively to describe a person with a cruel or intimidating personality.