Myths & disputes

leprechaun

Old Irish luchorpán, a small water-sprite, became Irish leipreachán and reached English in 1604 as lubrican. The usual explanation is 'small body', lú + corp from Latin corpus, but a newer proposal derives it from the Luperci, priests of Rome's Lupercalia. Irish-American St Patrick's Day culture and fantasy fiction later carried the leprechaun to Japan.

Weakest linkCertain

The story you may have heard

That leprechaun means 'half-shoe' (leith bróg), because the fairy is always mending a single shoe. This is a folk etymology.

The road to English

From Middle Irish to Irish

From English to Japanese

800 CEOld Irish

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

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