“goblins” is a form of
goblin
UK /ˈɡɒb.lɪn/ · US /ˈɡɑb.lɪn/ noun
Forms goblins
- 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.
- noun In later fantasy literature, an evil and grotesquely ugly humanoid, typically powerful and warlike, often associated with orcs and trolls.
- noun (geology) A hoodoo.
Synonyms
bugbear bog bogey boggard bogle bug-a-boo gnome hobgoblin imp kobold ogre orc puck hob
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.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [OE. gobelin, F. gobelin, LL. gobelinus, fr. Gr. kobold, E. kobold, cobalt, Armor. gobilin an ignis fatuus, goblin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “goblin”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details