Gimli son of Glóin, also called 'Elf-friend' and 'Lockbearer', was born in TA 2879, but there is no record of the year of his death. 'Gimli' means 'fire' in one of the Mannish tongues.

Part of the Fellowship of the Ring, he was strange among dwarves for his friendship with the elf Legolas. In Lothlórien he was so taken by Galadriel's beauty that he asked for a lock of her hair, which is why he was known as Lockbearer. When the Fellowship was broken, he travelled across Rohan with Aragorn and Legolas, chasing orcs.

After the War of the Ring, he brought some of his people south from Erebor to the Glittering Caves, where he was Lord. He and his people did many things for Rohan and Gondor. They even forged new gates for Minas Tirith out of Mithril, to replace the ones the Witch-king broke.

It is said that Legolas took Gimli with him to the Undying Lands. He was therefore the first and only dwarf ever to have made this journey. It is said he went not only to be with Legolas but also to see again the beauty of Galadriel.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by Hathaldir