Hobbit

hobbit, n., **Hobbit, The,** p.n. 1. in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, a demi-human race of midget-like, faintly magical beings who dwell in The Shire, a rural agrarian community reminiscent of England's North Country; the word "hobbit" is Tolkien's invention, and is not found in the source literature. Also halfling, hobytla.
2. The Hobbit, Or There And Back Again, a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, first published in England in 1937.
3. in fantasy literature and role-playing milieux, a race of beings inspired by Tolkien's hobbits -- usually short, gluttonous, and skilled at thievery; often referred to as halflings to avoid copyright problems with the Tolkien estate. [GJ1]
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Addendum: The novel is usually considered a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy; however, despite its differences in tone, The Hobbit and LOTR are best considered as parts of a whole, with the posthumously published The Silmarillion as a prequel. [GJ1]