gremlin

[ grem-lin ]

noun

1. a mischievous invisible being, said by airplane pilots in World War II to cause engine trouble and mechanical difficulties.
2. any cause of trouble, difficulties, etc., especially in a mechanical, electrical, computer, or other system:

   A loose wire was the gremlin that blew out the lights.

gremlin

/ ˈɡrɛmlɪn /

noun

1. an imaginary imp jokingly said to be responsible for malfunctions in machinery
2. any mischievous troublemaker

Word History and Origins

Origin of gremlin¹

First recorded in 1925–30; of obscure origin; in its earliest attested use, an RAF term for a low-ranking officer or enlisted man assigned the most onerous duties; later development perhaps affected by phonetic resemblance to goblin

Word History and Origins

Origin of gremlin¹

C20: perhaps a corruption of goblin

Synonym Study

See goblin.

Example Sentences

You can put mag wheels on a Gremlin,” commented one long time Michigan observer, “but that doesn't make it a Mustang.

From The Daily Beast

“You can put mag wheels on a Gremlin,” comments one long-time Michigan observer.

From The Daily Beast

Whatever the gremlin was, it wasn't exactly an auspicious start for a fifty million-mile hop.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• goblin