goblin means traditionally, a supernatural being of folklore, typically small and grotesque or misshapen, that commonly haunts dark places, often mischievous or malevolent; a type of evil elf, sprite, or demon. It carries an Arena rating of 1456, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, goblin ranks #230 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #1,230 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,356 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #2,623 of 17,131 for Scariest Words.
goblin is pronounced /ˈɡɒb.lɪn/.
Why “goblin” is a great word
A small, grotesque, and often malevolent or mischievous supernatural creature of folklore, or a similarly ugly and evil humanoid in modern fantasy. Its name descends from Middle English *gobelyn*, from Old Northern French *gobelin*, possibly a blend of Old Dutch *kobeholdo* ('goblin'; cf. German *Kobold*) and Late Latin *cobalus* ('mountain sprite'), from Ancient Greek κόβαλος (*kóbalos*, 'rogue, knave'). Unlike the puck—a mischievous but often playful English household spirit—or the Kobold—a German sprite bound to mines or hearths—the goblin is a free-floating, general malevolence. It is the gnarled hand reaching from a hollow root; the spiteful whisper that spoils the milk; the leering, needle-toothed face in the shadow beyond the candle's ring. In its petty, envious malice, it is the world's inherent unkindness given a twisted and enduring form.
Etymology
From Middle English gobelyn, from Old Northern French gobelin (compare Norman goubelin, Walloon gobelin), possibly a blend of Old Dutch *kobeholdo (“goblin”) (compare Dutch kabouter, German Kobold) and Late Latin cobalus (“mountain sprite”), from Ancient Greek κόβαλος (kóbalos, “rogue, knave; goblin”). Displaced native Old English pūca from Proto-Germanic *pūkô (“a goblin, spook”), whence English puck.
noun
- Traditionally, a supernatural being of folklore, typically small and grotesque or misshapen, that commonly haunts dark places, often mischievous or malevolent; a type of evil elf, sprite, or demon.e.g.“From yͤ hagg & hungry Goblin,
yͭ into raggs would rend yee,
& yͤ spirit yͭ stand’s by yͤ naked man,” — c. 1620, anonymous, “Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song” in Giles Earle his Booke (British Museum, Additional MSS. 24, 665)
- In later fantasy literature, an evil and grotesquely ugly humanoid, typically powerful and warlike, often associated with orcs and trolls.e.g.“At last the goblins had a chance to rid themselves of one of the troublesome defenders, and two goblin warriors snatched the opportunity.” — 2006, Charlotte Bishop, Norty: The Chosen Ones, page 187:
- A hoodoo.e.g.“Layers of sandstone serve as capstones of pillars and buttes; other layers of differing hardness yield erosional goblins of myriad form.” — 1975 June, United States Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System Draft Environmental Impact Statement part V: North Border, volume 1, page 209:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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