goblin
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goblin¹
- /ˈɡɒb.lɪn/ UK
- /ˈɡɑb.lɪn/ US
Sounds like GOBLin · Rhymes with -ɒblɪn
Where it comes from
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 goblins
- 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. From yͤ hagg & hungry Goblin, yͭ into raggs would rend yee, & yͤ spirit yͭ stand’s by yͤ naked man,
- In later fantasy literature, an evil and grotesquely ugly humanoid, typically powerful and warlike, often associated with orcs and trolls. At last the goblins had a chance to rid themselves of one of the troublesome defenders, and two goblin warriors snatched the opportunity.
- A hoodoo. Layers of sandstone serve as capstones of pillars and buttes; other layers of differing hardness yield erosional goblins of myriad form.
- Short for goblin shark Goblins are mainly found (when they are found at all) in deep waters.
Similar: bugbear, bog, bogey, boggard, bogle, bug-a-boo, gnome, goblin, hobgoblin, imp, kobold, ogre, orc, puck
GOBLin²
- /ˈɡɒb.lɪn/ UK
Sounds like goblin · Rhymes with -ɒblɪn
proper noun
- Acronym of Gospel Oak to Barking Line, a railway line in north London.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: hobgoblin, hob, leprechaun, elf, fool, sucker, frosted, brownie, bogie, gobbo, goblinry, goblinism, gobliness, goblette, gobline, ghast
Translations
Every language
noun hostile diminutive humanoid in fantasy literature
| Español | duende, trasgo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 고블린 gobeullin |
| 日本語 | ゴブリン goburin |
| 中文 | 哥布林 gēbùlín |
| Kiswahili | zimwi |
| Português | duende, goblin, gobrinho, gobelim |
| Français | gobelin, lutin |
| Deutsch | Kobold |
| Italiano | folletto, goblin |
| Ελληνικά | καλικάντζαρος kalikántzaros, ξωτικό xotikó |
| Română | iazmă |
| Русский | го́блин góblin |
Talk about this word "goblin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/goblin. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. goblin. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/goblin "goblin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/goblin.Cite this
@misc{goblin_2026,
title = {goblin},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/goblin},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
