kobold

noun

ko·​bold ˈkō-ˌbȯld How to pronounce kobold (audio)
1
: a gnome that in German folklore inhabits underground places
2
: an often mischievous domestic spirit of German folklore

Example Sentences

the metal cobalt gets its name from the medieval Germanic belief that its appearance in silver ore was the handiwork of mischievous, thieving kobolds
Recent Examples on the Web The word cobalt comes from the German word kobold, meaning goblin. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2022 Otherworldly cities modeled on real ones have been a standby of fantasy, from Superman’s Metropolis through China Miéville’s Un Lun Dun to Michael Swanwick’s Babel, with its haints and kobolds, ethnic politics and human ward-heelers. Tom Shippey, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kobold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

German — more at cobalt

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kobold was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near kobold

Cite this Entry

“Kobold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kobold. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

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