What is a goblin?
A goblin is a small, ugly, mischievous fairy or imp in European folklore. Goblins are said to make trouble for humans, hide things and give people nightmares, and they have been told of as the leading example of wicked fairies.
Folklore and the origin of the word
The word goblin is thought to have entered English by way of medieval French and Latin, and one theory traces it back to a Greek word meaning “mischievous spirit.” Among goblins, friendly ones that settle in houses and help with chores were distinguished as “hobgoblins.” They are considered close relatives of the German kobold. In the 19th century, the poem “Goblin Market,” about magic fruit sold by goblins, was written.
Goblins in fantasy
In J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Hobbit, evil goblins live under the mountains, and they overlap with the orcs of The Lord of the Rings. Under that influence, in today’s RPGs and other games, goblins are a staple first enemy: small, green-skinned creatures that attack in groups.
