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kallikantzaros

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Kallikantzaros¹

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Greek καλλικάντζαρος (kallikántzaros).

proper noun Kallikantzaroi

  1. In Greek and Cypriot culture, a traditional Yuletide gift-bearing character, resembling a goblin.

kallikantzaros²

Where it comes from

There is some debate about the etymology of this term. Berhand Schmidt conjectures that it is derived from two Turkish words meaning "black" and "werewolf". Paulikianos suggest that it is a euphemistic term combining kalos “handsome”, cf. an Arm. word for demons, mezmé aléknerë “the ones better (or prettier) than us”.

noun kallikantzaroi

  1. A mythical, malevolent goblin-like spirit of Southeastern European and Anatolian folklore. "This view is taken by Allatius, who says that a Kallikantzaros has all the characteristics of nightmare, rampaging on men's shoulders, then leaving them half senseless on the ground.

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MLA

"kallikantzaros." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/kallikantzaros. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

kallikantzaros. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/kallikantzaros

Chicago

"kallikantzaros." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/kallikantzaros.

BibTeX
@misc{kallikantzaros_2026,
  title = {kallikantzaros},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/kallikantzaros},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}