Hobgoblins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Mythical creatures often depicted as malevolent fairy-like beings that cause mischief or trouble
2. Figurative representations of fears or anxieties that play tricks on the mind and create unnecessary worry
3. Folklore entities believed to haunt homes and disrupt activities, sometimes seen as playful yet sinister spirits

Etymology: "Hobgoblins" is simply the plural of "hobgoblin," a compound of two older words. The first part, "hob," meant "elf" or sprite, and it came from "Hob," a nickname for "Rob," short for Robin. That name points to Robin Goodfellow, the mischievous household spirit of English folklore, who was known for playing pranks on sleeping servants and farmhands. Over time, "hob" alone came to name the household sprite, so the familiar name "Robin" survives in a rather unexpected place. The second part, "goblin," is a separate word that entered English from Old French "gobelin," a term for a mischievous or malevolent spirit. Joined to "hob," it gave the compound its sense of a troublesome creature of the woods and hearths. The pairing carries both the folk-sprite's playful tricks and the goblin's more sinister reputation, which explains why the word can describe anything from a harmless practical joker to a genuinely dangerous spirit.

Synonyms: goblins, sprites