A
goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous grotesque
dwarf-like
daemon or monster that appeared in European stories and accounts during the
Middle Ages. They are ascribed various (sometimes conflicting) abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins are little creatures related to the
brownie and
gnome. They are usually small, sometimes only a few inches tall, sometimes the size of a dwarf, and have magical abilities; they are greedy, especially for gold and jewelry.