kabouter

Meaning

1. (masculine) a (now usually benevolent) tiny folkloric bearded man who traditionally wears a pointy red hat, lives in harmony with nature and resides in mushrooms or trees, similar to a gnome, leprechaun or brownie
2. (masculine) a very young female member of the scout movement

Concepts

imp

👿

gnome

goblin

hobgoblin

sprite

elf

🧝

fairy

🧚

gremlin

evil sprite

dwarf

kobold

pixie

pixy

puck

spirit

spook

brownie

Synonyms

aardmannetje

gnoom

kobold

elf

11

geest

👻

Translations

Kobold

lutin

👿

gnomo

gnome

Irrwisch

duende

gnomo

Heinzelmännchen

Gnom

follet

Erdmännchen

Wichtel

Wichtelmännchen

διαβολάκι

Sentenz

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌkaːˈbɑu̯.tər/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Dutch: kove

Inherited from Old Dutch: *kovo

Cognate with German: Kobold

In summary

Possibly already from Middle Dutch. Equivalent to a compound of koof (from Middle Dutch kove, from Old Dutch *kovo, from Proto-Germanic *kubô (“hut, shed”)) and a less certain second element that might be hou (“friendly, favorable disposition”). Related to German Kobold. For sense 2, compare with English brownie/Brownie (“a junior Girl Scout, a junior Girl Guide”).