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

I scoop it up with Breton crackers, usually while standing at the fridge like a little gremlin.

From Salon

Now I have my VTuber model and can be a little gremlin in my pajamas and no one has to know because Monarch is always perfect.”

From Los Angeles Times

As mechanized as a race — or a movie — can feel, success or failure hinge on the human element, the hero battling the gremlins in the machine.

From Los Angeles Times

Johnson knew that when he made his return, that song, and a chorus line of mental gremlins, would be waiting.

From BBC

Seven was almost positive Valley was a cuco or, at the very least, part gremlin.

From Literature

Related Words

• goblin