Etymologically
Log in

Gobelinus

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word Gobelinus

Confidence
Disputed
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
12th century, Ordericus Vitalis
Borrowed from
Old French gobelin

Forms

Gobelīnus m (genitive Gobelīnī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French gobelin according to the DMLBS,[2] while Niermeyer marks it as Germanic,[3] and Köbler compares Middle High German kobolt (“household spirit”), adding that its further origin is unclear.[1] Etymonline calls the origin uncertain: the word is said to be unrelated to German Kobold, or else traced to Medieval Latin cabalus, from Ancient Greek κόβαλος (kóbalos, “impudent rogue”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the chronicle of Ordericus Vitalis, in the 12th century,[4][2] as the name of a demon driven out of a temple of Diana who still lived in the city, appearing in various shapes but harming no one: “the common people call him Gobelinus”.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

Etymonline places the spirit in the region of Évreux.[4] Du Cange equates it with the spirit commonly called faunus, French gobelin.[5] Niermeyer and the DMLBS define it as a goblin or a kind of devil.[3][2] The word passed into English as goblin in the early 14th century.[4]

Timeline

  • 12th century – Ordericus Vitalis says the common people call a harmless demon Gobelinus.[4][2][5]
  • early 14th century – English goblin is recorded, from Norman French.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin) A mischievous spirit, goblin; a kind of devil.[3][2][5]

References

  1. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Gobelinus.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/Gobelinus. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·