What was the title of J.R.R. Tolkien’s first published academic paper?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s first published academic paper was titled “The Devil’s Coach Horses.” It appeared in 1920 and examined the history and usage of the word “walrus” in English.

The paper reflects Tolkien’s early professional interest in historical linguistics, especially the way words change meaning and move between languages. Before becoming famous as a novelist, he trained and worked as a philologist, studying the development of English and related languages.

The title can mislead modern readers because it sounds like a literary or folkloric essay. Tolkien was actually investigating a word’s etymology and semantic history. His later scholarly publications included “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics,” “On Fairy-Stories,” and “English and Welsh.” These works show how closely his academic study of language and literature connected with his creative writing.