gremlin

English

Etymology

Possibly from Middle English gremly (“terrible”) (compare Old English gremman, gremian (“to provoke; irritate; anger; vex”)) +‎ -lin, -ling; related to German grämen, Swedish gräma (“to grieve”). Compare goblin.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹɛm.lɪn/
Audio (US) (file)

Noun

gremlin (plural gremlins)

A mythical creature reputed to be mischievously inclined to damage or dismantle machinery.
(by extension) Any mysterious, unknown source of trouble or mischief.
We rechecked everything, and we suspect gremlins in the database.

Translations

A mythical creature

Bulgarian: гном m (gnom)
Finnish: riiviö (fi)

Greek: καλικάντζαρος (el) m (kalikántzaros)

Anagrams

merling, mingler

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