Brownie, in the popular folklore of Scotland, a good-natured, invisible, household goblin who lives in farmhouses and other country dwellings. While the people are asleep, the brownie performs their labors for them. If offered payment for his cervices, the brownie disappears and is never seen again. In Germany a similar spirit is called a Kobold. Gnome, one of a fabled race of dwarflike creatures who live underground and guard treasure hoards.
Gnomes are subterranean creatures who make their homes deep underground.
Dwarf, a small creature resembling a human being, often ugly, appearing in legends and fairy tales. Troll, a supernatural creature of Scandinavian folklore, variously portrayed as a friendly or mischievous dwarf or as a giant, that lives in caves, in the hills, or under bridges. Goblin, a grotesque, elfin creature of folklore, thought to work mischief or evil Poltergeist, a ghost that manifests itself by noises, rappings, and the creation of disorder. Gremlin, an imaginary gnomelike creature to whom mechanical problems, especially in aircraft, are attributed. Elves, goblins, and trolls seem to be the timeless creations of the distant past, but gremlins were born in the 20th century.