leprechaun
- noun
- /ˈlɛprəˌkɔn/
- Literature
- The children were excited to hear stories about the leprechaun and his hidden pot of gold.
And the first time I ever filmed anything for for television, I was cast on your show to play a leprechaun with Marfan syndrome.
- And the first time I ever filmed anything for for television, I was cast on your show to play a leprechaun with Marfan syndrome.
- Like they're after a leprechauns pot of gold and they're dotting the eyes and they are spilling the tea.
- If you're hunting leprechauns, I probably would not use a green dot.
Examples
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Let's think about a leprechaun that's wearing a Santa hat.
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Boy, was I surprised to see the leprechaun shopping for blue clothes instead of green clothes.
Fiction book (2000) -
I am not a leprechaun, nor do I have gold.
-
We were looking around when I saw a leprechaun shopping for clothes!
Fiction book (2000) -
In the old stories, leprechauns would sometimes do a worthy family a favor.
Fiction book (2002) -
His eyes widened, for there, striding along as if he owned the world, was a leprechaun!
Fiction book (2002) -
With a sorrowful wave of the leprechaun's hand, a tiny pot appeared nearby.
Fiction book (2002) -
There are shamrocks in the drugstore and leprechauns on the bulletin board at school.
Fiction book (1999) -
Legend says that if you catch a leprechaun, he will lead you to his treasure.
-
In the garden, the little statue of a leprechaun made everyone smile with its cheeky grin.
Synonyms
A small imagined being that looks like a person and has magic
A small, ugly creature that causes trouble for people
A small magical creature with pointed ears that often plays tricks
A small magical creature that looks like a tiny person with wings and often plays tricks
A small magical man in Irish stories who hides gold
A mischievous spirit from Celtic stories that appears as an animal and plays tricks
Surface Forms
Etymology
Leprechaun probably comes from the Irish words leipreachán or the older luchorpán, which mean 'small body' or 'little person'. This helps explain the modern meaning: a leprechaun is a small, mischievous fairy often pictured hiding a pot of gold.