leprechaun

Meaning

One of a race of elves that can reveal hidden treasure to those who catch them.

Synonyms

elf

🧝

Translations

farfadet

🧝

lutin

👿

leprechaun

folletto irlandese

Heinzelmännchen

leprechaun

duende

leprechaun

Leprechaun

الجني

duende irlandés

Leprechaun

ιρλανδικό φάντασμα

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɛpɹəkɔːn/

Etymology

Cognate with Irish: lucharachán

In summary

From Irish leipreachán, luprachán, from Middle Irish luchrupán, from Old Irish luchorpán. See also Irish lucharachán.
The word's further etymology is disputed; it is traditionally explained as a compound containing lú (“small”, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ-) + corp (“body”, which is from Latin corpus). However, an alternative suggestion is that it is a derivative of Latin Lupercī (“priests of Lupercus”), who were misinterpreted as an antediluvian species by medieval Irish scholars.