goblin
[ gob-lin ]
/ ˈgɒb lɪn /
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noun
a grotesque sprite or elf that is mischievous or malicious toward people.
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Origin of goblin
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gobelin, from Middle French, from Middle High German kobold “goblin”; see kobold
synonym study for goblin
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.
Words nearby goblin
Gobi burin, Gobind Singh, gobioid, goblet, goblet cell, goblin, gobo, gobony, go broke, gobshite, gobsmacked
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for goblin
British Dictionary definitions for goblin
goblin
/ (ˈɡɒblɪn) /
noun
(in folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature, regarded as malevolent towards human beings
Word Origin for goblin
C14: from Old French, from Middle High German kobolt; compare cobalt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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