1. In Germanic folklore, a mischievous or malevolent household spirit or goblin.
Usage: folklore; from German mythology
2. In fantasy games and literature, a small, humanoid creature, often depicted as evil or hostile.
Usage: fantasy; gaming

Examples

• The old German tale described a kobold that would steal items from the household at night.
• In the fantasy novel, the adventurers encountered a band of kobolds guarding the dungeon entrance.
• The folklore museum displayed artifacts related to kobold legends from medieval Europe.
• The video game featured kobolds as the primary enemies in the early levels.
• According to the legend, a mischievous kobold was blamed for all the missing socks in the house.