Were Balrogs winged?

[Mister Underhill]

Dread Horseman
Posts: 672
Re: uhh....

Here's another similar structure, from RotK:

Smaug the Golden, greatest of the dragons of his day, arose and without warning came against King Thrór and descended on the Mountain in flames.

And here's something else that's interesting, from FotR:

Suddenly a shadow, like the shape of great wings, passed across the moon. The figure lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded. A mighty eagle swept down and bore him away.

Another case where the simile "like" is used before the (winged) creature is fully revealed.