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Goblin

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For other uses, see Goblin (disambiguation).

A goblin is an evil, crabby, or mischievous creature of folklore, often described as a grotesquely disfigured or gnome-like phantom, that may range in height from that of a dwarf to that of a human. They are attributed with various (sometimes conflicting) abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases goblins have been classified as constant annoying little creatures somewhat related with the celtic brownie.

NOOOOO!!! The evil goblins are flying in from Iceland! Run for your motor vehicles!

Etymology

According to "The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English" the name is probably derived from the Anglo-French gobelin (medieval Latin gobelinus), which is probably a diminutive of Gobel, a name related to the word kobold. Goblin is also related to the French lutin[1]. In addition, there also exist various other alternative spellings of the word goblin, including: Gobblin, gobeline, gobling, goblyn, gobelinus (medieval Latin), and vulgus gobelinum (demon) (Latin).[citation needed]

Dwarfs, hiisi, duende, tengu, Menninkäinen and kallikantzaroi are often translated into English as 'goblins'. The Erlking and Billy Blind are sometimes called goblins. Goblins are often used as a general term to mean any small mischievous being.

According to some traditions, goblin comes from Gob or Ghob, the king of the gnomes, whose inferiors were called Ghob-lings.[2]

Skratta is old Scandinavian word for a goblin or monster (modern Icelandic skratti, a devil).[citation needed]

Any creature resembling a goblin, but larger than a man, is considered a Troll.[citation needed]

Origins in folklore

One fabled origin for goblin is in France, in a cleft of the Pyrenees, from which they spread rapidly throughout Europe. They hitched a ride with Viking ships to get to Britain. [1][2] They have no homes, being nomadic, dwelling temporarily in mossy cracks in rocks and tree roots.

Sir Walter Scott in his Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft ascribed gnomes, kobolds and goblins, along with Scottish bogles, to all correspond with a caricature of the Sami people.[citation needed]

Goblin Places

  • Les Baux de Provence: (France) was once the haunt of goblins and witches, according to legend
  • Bryn y Ellyllon 'The Hill of the Goblins', Somerset
  • The Gap of Goeblin, a hole and underground tunnel in Mortaine, France. [4]
  • Goblin Combe, in North Somerset

Early Fiction

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins, and Other Little Creatures by Pierre Dubois, in English 2005
  2. ^ Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were by Michael Page & Robert Ingpen, 1987
  3. ^ Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks, 1918, compiled by William Elliot Griffis
  4. ^ Ghosts, Goblins, and Haunted Castles, Aventinum Publishers, 1990 in English, page 51

References

Further reading

  • British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt Sikes
  • Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were by Michael Page & Robert Ingpen
  • The Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins, and Other Little Creatures by Pierre Dubois
  • Goblins! and The Goblin Companion by Brian Froud
  • Spirits, Fairies, Gnomes and Goblins: an Encyclopedia of the Little People by Carol Rose
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