| 释义 |
▪ I. ‖ kobold|ˈkəʊbəld|
[G. kobold, kobolt (dial. kob(b)elt, kubbelt), MHG. kobolt (chowolt) = MDu. cobout (cobbout, coubout, Du. kabouter); ulterior etymology uncertain.
Hildebrand, in Grimm, favours an original *kobwalt, f. kobe house, cove n.1 + stem of walten to rule, wield; cf. OE. cofgodas, -godu as renderings of L. lares and penates.]
In German folklore: a. A familar spirit, haunting houses and rendering services to the inmates, but often of a tricky disposition; a brownie. b. An underground spirit haunting mines or caves; a goblin or gnome.
[1635Heywood Hierarch. ix. 568 The Parts Septentrionall are with these Sp'ryts Much haunted..About the places where they dig for Oare. The Greekes and Germans call them Cobali. Ibid. 574 Kibaldi.] 1830Scott Demonol. 121 The Kobolds were a species of gnomes, who haunted the dark and solitary places, and were often seen in the mines. 1849A. J. Symington Harebell Chimes 11 Witch, kobold, sprite..and imp of every kind. 1870Emerson Soc. & Solit., Work & Days Wks. (Bohn) III. 65 What of the grand tools with which we engineer, like kobolds and enchanters?
fig.1870Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. i. (1873) 217 There in the corner is the little black kobold of a doubt making mouths at him.
▪ II. kobold
obs. form of cobalt. |