rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygremlinMysterious troublemaker
noun

gremlin

GREM-lin/ˈɡremlɪn/

A real or imagined troublemaker blamed for unexplained problems.

The imaginary gremlin jams a wrench into the mechanism.

A tiny, impish imaginary creature mischievously jams a wrench between the gears of an open mechanical device, visibly causing the mechanism to fail.
Etymology

Gremlin is of unknown origin, but its use in aviators’ slang is established: an imaginary creature took the blame for mechanical failures. The proposed connection with goblin remains uncertain.

In context

Storied5:46
the gremlin car was indeed named after the Gremlin monster, a monster known for causing mechanical problems.
Why Did WWI Pilots Think Monsters Were Sabotaging Their Planes? | Monstrum

More examples

  • The cartoon gremlin jammed the machine's gears.
  • They joked that a gremlin had hidden the missing part.
  • A persistent software gremlin delayed the launch.

Forms

gremlin · gremlins

Similar words

bug
A bug is an actual software fault; gremlin playfully imagines a mischievous cause of trouble.
imp
An imp is a mischievous creature generally; a gremlin is especially associated with mechanical problems.