goblin

[ gob-lin ]

noun

1. a grotesque sprite or elf that is mischievous or malicious toward people.

goblin

/ ˈɡɒblɪn /

noun

1. (in folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature, regarded as malevolent towards human beings

Word History and Origins

Origin of goblin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gobelin, from Middle French, from Middle High German kobold “goblin”; kobold

Word History and Origins

Origin of goblin¹

C14: from Old French, from Middle High German kobolt; compare cobalt

Synonym Study

Goblin, gnome, gremlin refer to supernatural beings thought to be malevolent to people. Goblins are demons of any size, usually in human or animal form, that are supposed to assail, afflict, and even torture human beings: “Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, …” (Shakespeare, Hamlet I, iv ). Gnomes are small beings, like ugly little old men, who live in the earth, guarding mines, treasures, etc. They are mysteriously malevolent and terrify human beings by causing dreadful mishaps to occur. Gremlins are thought to disrupt machinery and are active in modern folklore.

Example Sentences

The spell is only broken when the night ends, not with an out-of-control orc or goblin but with something far more mundane: a bill.

From Los Angeles Times

While a lot of the tools now being used by the neurodiverse community are mainstream AI products, some offerings are particularly created for it, such as a website and app called Goblin Tools.

From BBC

Goblin Tools was built by Belgian software engineer Bram De Buyser, who says it is a sort of ode to his neurodivergent friends.

From BBC

“But first,” the bigger goblin said, “we’ll take you to the dungeon. You’ll see our Lady, all right...in a few hundred years.”

From Literature

The last Jack remembered, the goblin guards had swarmed over them from every side.

From Literature

Related Words

• gnome
• gremlin