korred means A long-haired nocturnal and often malevolent mythological creature of Breton and Welsh tradition.
Why “korred” is a great word
A long-haired nocturnal and often malevolent mythological creature of Breton and Welsh tradition, akin to a dwarf or gnome. From Breton korred, the plural of korr ("dwarf"), cognate with Welsh corrod (plural of cor, "dwarf") and Cornish korr. Unlike “korrigan” (which denotes a specifically female fairy, often beautiful and enchanted) or “sprite” (which suggests a playful, ethereal nature), the korred are a plural darkness, earthbound and watchful. They are the matted hair snagging on thorn roots in the deep woods, the sudden silence of a sheepfold at dusk, the chill that rises from a forest floor at midnight—the old, chthonic weight of knowing some thresholds are watched by something ancient that does not wish you well.
Etymology
From Breton korred, properly plural of korr; see also Welsh corrod, plural of cor. Cognate with Cornish korr.
noun
- A long-haired nocturnal and often malevolent mythological creature of Breton and Welsh tradition.e.g.“He went up to the Korred and asked permission to take share in their dance.” — 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 439:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- kobold 60% match — An ambivalent, sometimes vindictive, spirit that is capable of materialising as an object or human, often a child; a sprite. vs korred →
- coraniaid 59% match — A race of beings from Welsh mythology, having such sharp hearing that they can hear any word carried by the wind and thus avoid danger. vs korred →
- spriggan 58% match — In Cornish folklore, a malicious spirit in the form of a wizened old man. vs korred →
- goblin 57% match — 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. vs korred →
- corbie 56% match — A raven or crow (typically Corvus corax). vs korred →
- corkindrill 55% match — A mythological reptilian monster of legend, identified with the crocodile. vs korred →
- gwerz 55% match — a traditional folk song from Brittany vs korred →
- keres 54% match — Of or pertaining to the Keres Pueblo people or language of New Mexico. vs korred →