goblin

English

/ˈɡɑb.lɪn/, /ˈɡɒb.lɪn/

noun
Definitions
  • One of various hostile supernatural creatures, now especially (fantasy literature) a malevolent and grotesque diminutive humanoid.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English gobelyn derived from gobelin derived from Old Dutch *kobeholdo (goblin) derived from Latin cobalus derived from Ancient Greek κόβαλος (rogue, goblin, knave).

Origin

Ancient Greek

κόβαλος

Gloss

rogue, goblin, knave

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms