# goblin

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡɒb.lɪn/ · frequency rank #19,353

## Definitions
1. A malevolent and grotesque diminutive humanoid, often associated with orcs or trolls.
2. A hoodoo.
3. Short for goblin shark

## Etymology
From Middle English gobelyn, from Old Northern French gobelin (compare Norman goubelin, Walloon gobelin), possibly a blend of Old Dutch *kobeholdo (“goblin”) (compare Dutch kabouter, German Kobold) and Late Latin cobalus (“mountain sprite”), from Ancient Greek κόβαλος (kóbalos, “rogue, knave; goblin”). Displaced native Old English pūca from Proto-Germanic *pūkô (“a goblin, spook”).

## Easily confused with
- **goin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goblin-vs-goin)
- **Golan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goblin-vs-golan)
- **Godwin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goblin-vs-godwin)
- **gosling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goblin-vs-gosling)
- **goalie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goalie-vs-goblin)
- **goblet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goblet-vs-goblin)

## Common misspellings (9)
`gbolin`, `ggoblin`, `gobblin`, `gobiln`, `goblinn`, `gobllin`, `goblni`, `golbin`, `ogblin`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/goblin