leprechaun

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small solitary supernatural being in Irish folklore, traditionally portrayed as a shoemaker who guards hidden treasure

   In the folktale, the leprechaun tried to distract the farmer from the buried gold.

2. 2
   noun

   a representation or costume of this folkloric figure

   A painted leprechaun stood beside the festival entrance.

Simplified etymology

Leprechaun is based on old Irish words meaning “small body.” When the word first appeared in English in the early 17th century, it was spelled lubrican; the modern form dates from the 19th century.

From Irish leipreachan or luchorpán, through Middle Irish luchrupán and Old Irish luchorpán. Its deeper analysis is disputed; a traditional explanation connects Old Irish lu, 'small,' with corp, 'body,' from Latin corpus.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary