The plural form dwarfs has been traced to the 17th century. The alternative plural dwarves has been recorded in the early 18th century (cf. such plurals as "loaves," "elves", "halves," etc.) but was not generally accepted until used by philologist J. R. R. Tolkien in his fantasy novel The Hobbit. Neither spelling represents the regular phonetic development of the Old English plural dweorgas, namely dwarrows; rather, they descend from a new plural formed in Middle English from the singular stem. Similarly, the old inherited plural dwarrows acquired a singular dwarrow. Although dwarrow has passed from the language, both dwarfs and dwarves are in current use. Many grammarians prefer dwarfs (linguistically, not sexually--of course the exception may prove the rule); many fantasists prefer dwarves (again, linguistically-speaking but with the previous caveat). The form "dwarfs" is generally used for real people affected by dwarfism and in reference to dwarf stars in astronomy; the form dwarves is used for the mythical people described by Tolkien and others.

Now everyone please repeat after me: The dwarves of Gaia camp mainly on the playa.

I thought it was "ghoti" with the 'o' from 'women'

Hey, if "thief" is "thieves", then how come "chief" doesn't become "chieves"?