gremlin

grem·lin

noun \ˈgrem-lən\

Definition of GREMLIN

: a cause of error or equipment malfunction (as in aircraft) conceived of as a small mischievous gnome

Examples of GREMLIN

1. <during the World Wars, fighter pilots adopted the fanciful notion that gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on their planes>

Origin of GREMLIN

origin unknown

First Known Use: 1941

Related to GREMLIN

Synonyms: brownie, dwarf, elf, faerie (also faery), fay, gnome, goblin, fairy, hobgoblin, kobold, leprechaun, pixie (also pixy), puck, sprite, troll

Related Words: little people; kelpie, nixie; changeling; imp; banshee, ghoul, hag, ogre

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Rhymes with GREMLIN

kremlin