leprechaun

UK: /ˈlɛprəˌkɔːn/

US: /ˈlɛprəˌkɔn, -ˌkɑn/

US: (lep′rə kôn′, -kon′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lep•re•chaun /ˈlɛprəˌkɔn, -ˌkɑn/   n. [countable]

1. Mythology a small elflike creature of Irish folklore, often represented as a little old man who will reveal the location of a crock of gold to anyone who catches him.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lep•re•chaun  (lep′rə kôn′, -kon′), n. [Irish Folklore.]

1. Mythology a dwarf or sprite.
2. Mythology a conventionalized literary representation of this figure as a little old man who will reveal the location of a hidden crock of gold to anyone who catches him.

• Latin corpus) + -án diminutive suffix
• Irish leipreachán, lucharachán, Middle Irish luchrapán, lupra(c)cán, metathesized forms of Old Irish lúchorp(án), equivalent. to lú- small + corp body (
• 1595–1605

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

leprechaun / ˈlɛprəˌkɔːn/ noun

1. (in Irish folklore) a mischievous elf, often believed to have a treasure hoard

Etymology: 17th Century: from Irish Gaelic leipreachān, from Middle Irish lūchorpān, from lū small + corp body, from Latin corpus body