leprechaun

[ lep-ruh-kawn, -kon ]
See synonyms for: leprechaunleprechauns on Thesaurus.com

nounIrish Folklore.
  1. a dwarf or sprite.

  2. a conventionalized literary representation of this figure as a little old man who will reveal the location of a hidden crock of gold to anyone who catches him.

Origin of leprechaun

1
1595–1605; <Irish leipreachán, lucharachán, MIr luchrapán, lupra(c)cán, metathesized forms of Old Irish lúchorp(án), equivalent to lú- small + corp body (<Latin corpus) + -án diminutive suffix

Words Nearby leprechaun

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How to use leprechaun in a sentence

  • "More, perhaps, than you imagine—cares and anxieties," said the leprechaun.

    The Bunsby papers | John Brougham
  • "And what a life-time," observed the leprechaun, reproachfully.

    The Bunsby papers | John Brougham
  • To my first intention; that is, to illustrate the position in Fairydom of the leprechaun.

    The Bunsby papers | John Brougham

British Dictionary definitions for leprechaun

leprechaun

/ (ˈlɛprəˌkɔːn) /


noun
  1. (in Irish folklore) a mischievous elf, often believed to have a treasure hoard

Origin of leprechaun

1
C17: from Irish Gaelic leipreachān, from Middle Irish lūchorpān, from small + corp body, from Latin corpus body

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012