Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
name
In Greek and Cypriot culture, a traditional Yuletide gift-bearing character, resembling a goblin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A mythical, malevolent goblin-like spirit of Southeastern European and Anatolian folklore.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Borrowed from Greek καλλικάντζαρος (kallikántzaros).
There is some debate about the etymology of this term. Berhand Schmidt conjectures that it is derived from two Turkish words meaning "black" and "werewolf". Paulikianos suggest that it is a euphemistic term combining kalos “handsome”, cf. an Arm. word for demons, mezmé aléknerë “the ones better (or prettier) than us”.
