English Explanatory Dictionary

leprechaun

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One of a race of elves that can reveal hidden treasure to those who catch them.
  2. An Irish person.

Pronunciation

/ˈlɛpɹəkɔːn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-leprechaun.wav /ˈlɛpɹəˌkɔn/ /ˈlɛpɹəˌkɑn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-leprechaun.wav

Word forms

leprechaun leprechauns lepracaun

Etymology

From Irish leipreachán, luprachán, from Middle Irish luchrupán, from Old Irish luchorpán. See also Irish lucharachán. The word's further etymology is disputed; it is traditionally explained as a compound containing lú (“small”, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ-) + corp (“body”, which is from Latin corpus). However, an alternative suggestion is that it is a derivative of Latin Lupercī (“priests of Lupercus”), who were misinterpreted as an antediluvian species by medieval Irish scholars.

Derived words

aleprechaunist leprechaunesque leprechauness leprechaunic leprechaunish leprechaunism leprechaunology leprechauny leprechology
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