Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Barbara McAllister
Word of the Day: Goblin
The word goblin comes from the Greek word kobalus, meaning a rogue or evil spirit. In Medieval times, goblins were considered mischievous fairies who haunted throughout European folklore. The German word kobolds, meaning a goblin or troublemaker, is the origin of the word cobalt, the element that produces a beautiful shade of blue. German miners in the 16th century named the element after discovering what they thought were silver deposits. The deposits were actually a mixed ore of cobalt and arsenic. Smelting the ore resulted not in the silver they expected, but what appeared to be a worthless lump. In addition, the extraction process released toxic fumes that sickened or killed the workers. The miners, unaware they had discovered a new element, blamed their mysterious troubles on evil spirits. It’s not hard to imagine why superstition prevailed, given the harsh and dangerous circumstances of primitive mining in underground darkness.
In 1871, Scottish author George MacDonald published “The Princess and the Goblin,” a fairy story largely important because of its detailed description of goblins, which he also called gnomes and kobolds. MacDonald’s description would later influence J.R.R. Tolkien, who published “The Hobbit” in 1937 and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy between 1954 and 1955. After “The Hobbit” was published, the modern Western view of goblins began to change and they became commonly seen as a distinct race of creatures. Today, a quick online search of “goblins” shows dozens of websites that list their physical characteristics, speech, types, behavior, appearance, what they eat and what they fear. Lots of facts but no mention that they are mythical creature
