leprechaun
[ lep-ruh-kawn, -kon ]
/ ˈlɛp rəˌkɔn, -ˌkɒn /
noun Irish Folklore.
a dwarf or sprite.
a conventionalized literary representation of this figure as a little old man who will reveal the location of a hidden crock of gold to anyone who catches him.
Origin of leprechaun
1595–1605; < Irish
leipreachán, lucharachán, MIr
luchrapán, lupra(c)cán, metathesized forms of Old Irish
lúchorp(án), equivalent to
lú- small +
corp body (< Latin
corpus) +
-án diminutive suffix
Words nearby leprechaun
leporine,
lepothrix,
leppard,
leppy,
lepra,
leprechaun,
leprechaunism,
leprechauns,
leprid,
leproma,
lepromatous
Example sentences from the Web for leprechaun
British Dictionary definitions for leprechaun
leprechaun
/ (ˈlɛprəˌkɔːn) /
noun
(in Irish folklore) a mischievous elf, often believed to have a treasure hoard
Word Origin for leprechaun
C17: from Irish Gaelic
leipreachān, from Middle Irish
lūchorpān, from
lū small +
corp body, from Latin
corpus body