kobold
Americannoun
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a spirit or goblin, often mischievous, that haunts houses.
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a spirit that haunts mines or other underground places.
noun
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a mischievous household sprite
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a spirit that haunts subterranean places, such as mines
Etymology
Origin of kobold
Borrowed into English from German in 1625–35
Explanation
A kobold is a mischievous spirit or gnome from German folklore. In children's books kobolds are usually pictured wearing pointy red hats. As household spirits, kobolds are said to perform chores, like tidying or cleaning up. But because they're pranksters, they are also famous for hiding things, tripping people, or otherwise being naughty. They're a little bit scary, too, resorting to cruelty or violence when crossed. The word kobald means "household gremlin" in German, from kob, "house or chamber."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a typical game, online or off, the game master will present the players with a situation — an encounter with a kobold, say.
From New York Times • Mar. 6, 2021
It seemed as if I had heard the unseen kobold, laughing in mockery, seat himself near me.
From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 05 Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English by Various
"I trust you are satisfied, ma'am," the kobold added, after a moment's vain expectation of a word from Juliet, "that your secret is safe with me."
From Paul Faber, Surgeon by MacDonald, George
This world and the other, too, are always present to his mind, and there in the corner is the little black kobold of a doubt making mouths at him.
From Among My Books First Series by Lowell, James Russell
"Oh, no," cried the host, quite humbly, "I will gladly produce everything, only make the accursed kobold creep back into the sack."
From Household Tales by Brothers Grimm by Hunt, Margaret
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
