goblin

A goblin is a small humanoid creature found in European folklore and modern fantasy. In traditional sources, goblins are mischievous or malevolent beings associated with caves, forests, and places humans rarely visit; they are prone to theft, trickery, and sometimes violence. The word’s etymology is uncertain: it appears in Middle English from Old French gobelin or gobelin, and is likely connected to other Germanic terms for elf-like beings.

Descriptions vary by region and era. Goblins are typically imagined as diminutive, ugly, and crafty, with large ears, sharp teeth, and a fondness for ambushes and traps. They are frequently portrayed as nocturnal hoarders who guard stolen goods or treasure.

Cultural context: In many traditions they are considered demons or pests; some stories treat them as malevolent tricksters who may be appeased with gifts or offerings. In German folklore and later adaptations, goblins share space with other subterranean creatures such as dwarves or kobolds.

In modern fantasy, goblins are common adversaries or enemies in books, games, and films. J. R. R. Tolkien popularized the term among readers as part of his orcish world, where goblins dwell in cavernous realms and wage wars against protagonists. In role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, goblins are small, numerous, and often weak individually but dangerous in numbers, with simple tribal social structures.

Overall, goblins remain a durable element of myth and fiction, serving as symbols of mischief, greed, and danger while adapting across cultures and media.