Goblins
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.
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. 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).
Dwarfs, hiisi, duende, tengu, Mennink?inen 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.
Skratta is old Scandinavian word for a goblin or monster (modern Icelandic skratti, a devil).
Any creature resembling a goblin, but larger than a man, is considered a Troll.
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. They have no homes, being nomadic, dwelling temporarily in mossy cracks in rocks and tree roots.
