EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

kobold

a mischievous household spirit or mine goblin in German folklore

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "kobold" come from? It comes from German Kobold, and was adopted directly into English (1830s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "kobold" come from? It comes from German Kobold, and was adopted directly into English (1830s).

Kobold’s story begins in German: Kobold meant “goblin.” A household spirit; miners blamed kobolds for worthless ores, which gave the name 'cobalt'. It reached English by 1830s as kobold. Borrowed with German folklore. Today, kobold means a mischievous household spirit or mine goblin in German folklore.

  1. Stage 1 · German · medieval Kobold "goblin", a household spirit; miners blamed kobolds for worthless ores, which gave the name 'cobalt'.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1830s kobold "goblin", borrowed with German folklore.

Browse by origin