/grem"lin/ , n.
1. a mischievous invisible being, said by airplane pilots in World War II to cause engine trouble and mechanical difficulties.
2. any cause of trouble, difficulties, etc.
[ 1925-30; of obscure orig; in its earliest attested use, an RAF term for a low-ranking officer or enlisted man assigned the most onerous duties; later development perh. affected by phonetic resemblance to GOBLIN ]
Syn. 1. See goblin .