Devilkins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small mischievous or impish creatures imagined as little devils; endearing or playful term for youngsters exhibiting naughty behavior; colloquial nickname for tiny fiendish figures or characters
2. Little sprites or sprites perceived as minor demons; affectionate label for children who behave with sly or cheeky antics; informal name for diminutive infernal beings in folklore or stories
3. Tiny supernatural mischief-makers identified as minor diabolical entities; casual and fond description of kids prone to troublemaking; slang for small devil-like characters in imaginative contexts

Etymology: "Devilkins" is the plural of "devilkin," a noun built from "devil" plus the diminutive suffix "-kin." That suffix, borrowed into English from Middle Dutch, turns a noun into a little version of itself: "lambkin" is a small lamb, "napkin" a small cloth. Attaching it to "devil" gives a playful sense of small, mischievous imps rather than the fearsome archfiend. The same diminutive pattern appears in other languages. German forms "Teufelchen" in the same way, using its own diminutive suffix on "Teufel," so the idea of a tiny devil is shared across the two languages. English took the suffix in the same spirit, letting speakers shrink a frightening figure down to something cheeky and small.

Synonyms: imps, little devils, mischievous children

Antonyms: angels, saints