| 释义 |
Robin Goodfellow|ˈrɒbɪn ˈgʊdfɛləʊ|
[See Robin1 and goodfellow. For the use of the adj. cf. good a. 2 d.]
1. A sportive and capricious elf or goblin believed to haunt the English country-side in the 16–17th centuries; also called Hobgoblin or Puck.
A full account of the popular beliefs concerning Robin Goodfellow is given by Shakespeare in Mids. N. ii. i. 33 ff. In R. Scot Disc. Witchcraft (1584) Devils & Sp. i. xxi. he is described as a helpful being, similar to the Scottish brownie.
1531Tindale Wks. (Parker Soc. 1849) 139 The scripture..is become a maze unto them, in which they wander as in a mist, or (as we say) led by Robin Goodfellow, that they cannot come to the right way, no, though they turn their caps. 1570B. Googe Pop. Kingd. iii. (1880) 33 Masse driues out Robyn good fellow, & bugs that walke by night. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. ii. i. 34 That shrew'd and knauish spirit, Cal'd Robin Good-fellow. 1601Sir W. Cornwallis Disc. Seneca (1631) 84 But warres best use, is the same that nurses make of Robin-goodfellow, to terrifie. 1622Breton Strange News Wks. (Grosart) II. 10/2 In the old time when Hobgoblin and Robin good Fellow made country wenches keepe their houses cleane ouernight. 1701Farquhar Sir H. Wildair i. i, The English came in like Robin Good⁓fellow, cried Boh! and made 'em be quiet. [1827Hood Mids. Fairies ix, Robin Goodfellow, that merry swain.]
transf.1600E. Guilpin in Eng. Parnassus 223 Let us esteeme Opinion as she is;..The Proteus Robin Good-fellow of change.
†b. In general sense: A fairy or goblin of this kind. Obs.
a1593Nashe Terrors of Night Wks. (Grosart) III. 222 The Robbin good-fellowes, Elfes, Fairies, Hobgoblins of our latter age,..did most of their merry prankes in the Night. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. i. ii, A bigger kind there is of them called with vs Hobgoblins, and Robin good fellowes, that would in those superstitious times, grind Corne for a messe of milke. 1635Heywood Hierarch. ix. 574 These..Make fearefull noise in Buttries and in Dairies; Robin good-fellowes some, some call them Fairies.
c. With punning allusion to robbing ppl. a.
1686W. de Britaine Hum. Prud. xii. 59 If not to practice the Law, yet to gain so much knowledge therein, as to defend your..Estate from the Robbing-good-Fellows of it.
†2. Robin Goodfellow's louse, the wood-louse.
1552Huloet, Cheeselippe worme, otherwise called Robin-goodfellowe his lowse, tylus. |