1. A small legendary man-like being who is usually misshapen and ugly and skilled as an artificer.

In Norse mythology, a dwarf is a member of a humanoid race, much like humans, but generally living underground or in mountainous areas. Shorter than humans, they are stockier and hairier, usually sporting a full beard. It is said that the mountain echoes are the mingled sounds of their voices as they mock the cries of the wanderer. The fissures of the rocks are the entrances to their subterranean abodes. There they have heaped up countless treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones, and they pass their time in fabricating enchanted armor. They are famed miners and smiths though, like humans, specialize in any number of trades.

2. DWARF (Debug With Arbitrary Record Format) is a widely used, standardized debugging data format. DWARF was originally introduced along with ELF.

1. A supernatural being, a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit. Elves haunt hills and forests, and other wild places; they are typically not associated with the mountains. Elves are often represented as delighting in mischievous tricks.

2. ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) is a popular standard for executables and object code. First published in the Tool Interface Standard and the System V Application Binary Interface, it was quickly accepted among different vendors of UNIX systems.

A supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of mankind. See Elf, and Demon.

Fairies that are somewhat mischievous. An old English name for a fairy.

A small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings [syn: goblin, hobgoblin]

A rogue and ugly or grotesque sprite that is mischievous and sometimes evil and malicious.

Gremlins have nothing to do with traditional lore. They were first observed by the Royal Naval Air Service sometime after World War I. Later, they were frequently observed by the American fighter pilots during World War II. Gremlins tend to work mischief on the planes and when something goes wrong with the plane's engine it is said to be the work of Gremlins.

A frightful goblin; an imp; a bugaboo; also, a name formerly given to the household spirit, Robin Goodfellow.

A kind of domestic spirit in German mythology, corresponding to the Scottish brownie and the English Robin Goodfellow.

A kind of gnome that in German folklore inhabits underground places and is more closely related to the gnome.

A supernatural female being supposed by the Irish and the Scotch to warn a family that one of them will soon die, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice under the windows of the house.

To the best of our knowledge, the male Banshees do not exist. The issue of reproduction is not addressed by the traditional lore.

A spirit; an apparition. A generic name for an elf; a fairy; a goblin.

A supernatural being, often represented as of diminutive size, but sometimes as a giant, and fabled to inhabit caves, hills, and the like places.

In Norse mythology Trolls are Dwarfs, living in hills or mounds. They are represented as stumpy, misshapen, and humpbacked, inclined to thieving, and fond of carrying off children or substituting one of their own offspring for that of a human mother. They are called hill-people, and are especially averse to noise, from a recollection of the time when Thor used to fling his hammer at them.

In Scandinavian fairy tales Trolls generally turn to stone if exposed to sunlight.

An apparition of a person in his exact likeness, seen before his death, or a little after; hence, an apparition; a specter; a vision; an unreal image.

A good-natured spirit, who was supposed often to perform important services around the house by night, such as thrashing, churning, sweeping. Brownie typically lives in the rafters. See Kobold.

A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a small demon; a contemptible evil worker.

An supernatural being, supposed to inhabit the inner parts of the earth, and to be the guardian of mines, quarries, etc. In many tales synonymous with Dwarfs.

According to the folklore and mythology of the peoples of Northern Europe, the ogres are a race of humanoid beings, fierce and cruel monsters, that eat humans. For the most part, they try to avoid people, and have little or no intelligence, which makes it easy for men to defeat them. A female of this race is called ogress. Ogres are said to be able to change their shape at will into animals or objects, but that is not common. They sometimes dwell in marvellous castles, but that does not appear to be typical.

A male demon, a lascivious spirit, believed to have sexual intercourse with women by night. [syn: incuba]

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911) :

INCUBUS, n. One of a race of highly improper demons who, though probably not wholly extinct, may be said to have seen their best nights. For a complete account of incubi and succubi, including incubae and succubae, see the Liber Demonorum of Protassus (Paris, 1328), which contains much curious information that would be out of place in a dictionary intended as a text-book for the public schools.

Victor Hugo relates that in the Channel Islands Satan himself -- tempted more than elsewhere by the beauty of the women, doubtless -- sometimes plays at incubus, greatly to the inconvenience and alarm of the good dames who wish to be loyal to their marriage vows, generally speaking. A certain lady applied to the parish priest to learn how they might, in the dark, distinguish the hardy intruder from their husbands. The holy man said they must feel his brow for horns; but Hugo is ungallant enough to hint a doubt of the efficacy of the test.

A female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men [syn: succuba]

1. An evil spirit; a devil.

2. In some pagan mythologies, a spirit holding a middle place between men and deities. The Greek daimon means 'divine power', 'fate', or 'god'. To the Greeks, daimons were intermediary spirits between human beings and the gods, acting as spiritual advisors.

3. One of the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian theology. In the New Testament, Daemons are spoken of as spiritual beings (Matt. 8:16; 10:1; 12:43-45) at enmity with God, and as having a certain power over man (James 2:19; Rev. 16:14).

4. Deriving from the Greek daimon's position and activities, the name daemon was applied to UNIX background processes acting as intermediaries between a visible (foreground) process and some entity. The classic example given in The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing is LPT spooler, a demon process running as an intermediary between an application and a printer.

Demon's affiliation with science considerably predates UNIX. Catholic church asserted such a connection back in the 15th century and attempted to break it by burning select scientists at a stake. At the end of the 19th century, Maxwell in his thought experiment employed demon as a scientific tool for the first time.

Often capitalized: the personal supreme spirit of evil and unrighteousness in Jewish and Christian theology.

An evil spirit; a demon.

Synonyms: Apollyon, Beelzebub, Cloot(s), Clootie, fiend, Lord Harry, Lucifer, Old Gooseberry, Old Nick, Old Scratch, Old Trickster, Satan, Serpent.

Jewish Lore

An evil spirit of the wilderness to which a scapegoat was sent by the ancient Hebrews in a ritual of atonement.

According to the apocryphal Book of Enoch, Azazel was a leader of the grigori (also known as "watchers"), a group of fallen angels who mated with mortal women, giving rise to a race of giants known as the Nephilim. Azazel is particularly noteworthy among the grigori because it was he who taught men how to make weapons of war as well as teaching women how to make and wear cosmetics. Azazel is found in the Bible in Leviticus 16:8, 10, and 26, but is not listed as an entity or spirit.

(The Book of Enoch is an Old Testament pseudepigraphal (Greek 'falsely superscribed') apocrypha attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Scholars date its composition to the 2nd century BCE. This and many other books were considered discredited by the Cristians after the Council of Laodicea. The original Aramaic version was lost until the Dead Sea fragments were discovered.)

A dybbuk is a restless soul or evil spirit that "impregnates" a living person, usually for a limited period of time and creating a separate personality for itself, and talking through that person's mouth.

The word dybbuk comes from the Hebrew verb ledavek, "to cling." While the concept of an "evil spirit" is common in Second Temple, talmudic, and kabbalistic literature, the term dybbuk only came into use during the 1700s.

A golem is a human figure created from clay and brought to life by use of the Ineffable Name of God. Since the letters of that name were considered to be the original source of life, it is thought possible for one knowledgeable in the secrets of the Divine Power to use them to create life.

According to best known legend of Golem, Yehudah Ben Bezalel, also known as Maharal, is credited with ceation of Golem. Ineterestingly, the reason for its creation is never mentioned in this context: it was supposed to be created to protect the Jewish community of Prague from the violence provoked by the Blood Libel accusations.

In Jewish tradition, the golem is most widely known as an artificial creature created by magic, often to serve its creator. The word "golem" appears only once in the Bible (Psalms 139:16). In Hebrew, "golem" stands for "shapeless mass." The Talmud uses the word as "unformed" or "imperfect" and according to Talmudic legend, Adam is called "golem," meaning "body without a soul" (Sanhedrin 38b) for the first 12 hours of his existence. The golem appears in other places in the Talmud as well. One legend says the prophet Jeremiah made a golem.

As embrio:

This word occurs only once in the Bible, in Ps. 139:16, where it means "embryo." In tradition, everything that is in a state of incompletion, everything not fully formed, is designated as "golem". A woman is golem so long as she has not conceived (Sanh. 22b; comp. Shab. 52b, 77b; Sanh. 95a; Abot v. 6; Sifre, Num. 158).

In Medieval Times:

In the Middle Ages arose the belief in the possibility of infusing life into a clay or wooden figure of a human being, which figure was termed "golem" by writers of the eighteenth century. The golem grew in size, and could carry any message or obey mechanically any order of its master. It was supposed to be created by the aid of the "Sefer Ye'irah," that is, by a combination of letters forming a "Shem" (any one of the names of God). The Shem was written on a piece of paper and inserted either in the mouth or in the forehead of the golem, thus bringing it into life and action.

Some use this term to describe a diminutive human. Proper use of the term is different and refers to an alchemically created human being of small size, 11-12 inches. Creation of the first such being is credited to Arnaldus de Villa Nova. Paracelsus provides instructions for creating homunculus in De natura rerum. Practical use of homunculi is not known. see Golem.

A female figure who in rabbinic legend is Adam's first wife, is supplanted by Eve, and becomes an evil spirit.

Female demon. Of the three Assyrian demons Lilu, Lilit, and Ardat Lilit, the second is referred to in Isa. XXXIV. 14. Some take Lilith to be a goddess of the night; she is said to have been worshiped by the Jewish exiles in Babylon, and others think that "Lilith" is not connected with the Hebrew "layil" (night), but that it is the name of a demon of the storm, and this view is supported by the cuneiform inscriptions quoted by them. It must, however, be assumed that the resemblance to the Semitic "layil" materially changed the conception of Lilith among the Semites, and especially among the Jews. No definite conclusions can be drawn from the passage in Isaiah, where it is said of the devastated palaces of Edom that wild animals shall dwell in them "and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech-owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest" (Isa. XXXIV. 14).

Talmud and Midrash.

Lilith is more fully described in post-Biblical literature, where she appears as a demon of the night, as suggested by her Hebrew name. Three classes of demons are mentioned: spirits, devils, and "lilin" (Deut. 32:24; Esth. 1:3; passim). The first have neither body nor form; the second appear in complete human shape; the third in human shape, but with wings (Rashi to Sanh. 109a). Adam procreated all the spirits while he was under a spell (Gen. R. 20:11; 'Er. 18b). Similarly, Eve bore demons to male spirits for the space of 130 years. This corresponds to the view that the demons are half human. Hence an abortion which has the shape of Lilith may be a child, though it has wings (Nid. 24b). Lilith is a seductive woman with long hair ('Er. 100b); she is the Queen of Zemargad (Job i. 15); Ahriman is her son. She goes about at night, fastening herself upon anyone sleeping alone in a room (Shab. 151b). "The Lord will protect thee" (Num. 6:24) means, according to some, ". . . from lilin." The meteor-stone is her arrow and is a remedy against disease. King Solomon, who commanded all spirits, had the lilin dance before him (Esth. 1:3).

Russian Lore

The Domovoi is a house-spirit. He looks like a small old man with a beard. The Domovoy lives in dwelling-houses behind the stove or under the floor. In summer, he might move to a stable. The Domovoi is not regarded as an evil spirit or an entirely good spirit, but one that is moody and mischievous. He would inhabit the same dwelling as a family might, and if the family was good to him, the house, and to themselves he would act as a protector.

In the Russian lore, there are verieties of spirits that live in various natural habitats, like forests, lakes, fields. Other than leshii, vodyanoi, and rusalka, they are not mentioned fequently. Polevoi is one of those rarely mentioned ones. It lives in the fields and often depicted as a smallish man with hair made of grass. It is not malevolent and can be either mischievous or helpful.

A Leshy is a Russian forest spirit. He is akin to the devil in some areas. He is rarely seen, but can often be heard laughing, whistling, or singing. Leshy, although shaped like a man, has no eyebrows, eyelashes, and his size varies from tale to tale. In some tales, he can assume shapes of animals but he should not be confused with a werewolf.

Kikimora is a female house spirit that is sometimes said to be married to the Domovoi. Kikimora looks like a small, untidy and unattractive woman with free and disheveled hair (Russian women of old kept their hair braided and in a bun or some such). It lives under the floor or behind the stove. It is said the girl, damned by her mother, can become a Kikimora.

If Kikimora appears spinning to someone, that person will die. She will tickle, whistle, and whine at the children at night. She comes out at night and tries to do some house chores, like spinning. Whatever she does, she usually messes it up; if she blows on milk, ir curdles. To appease an angry Kikimora it is said one should wash all the pots and pans in a fern tea. In some tales, she will look after the chickens and the housework if the home is well kept.

A very close analog of a werewolf but can turn into any animal of any size. Interestingly, the lore does not deal with the issues of preservation of matter or energy.

Somewhat similar to a Vampire: a corpse that comes alive and sucks blood of the living. They do not live in castles and do not have servants. They are all male, although M.Bulgakov in "The Master and Margarita" depicts a female Upyr' by the name of Gella. They are night creatures and do not tolerate sunlight; they must return to their graves no later than the first cry of a rooster.

Upyr's are usually killed by driving a sharpened aspen stake through their heart but some have a notion that they can be killed with silver bullets. This belief is probably rooted in the antiseptic qualities of silver. Upyr' can be warded off with a garland of garlick worn around the neck or with a silver cross; there is no record of them being warded off with a Magen David or with a Crescent. Some infer from this observation that they present a threat only to those of Russain Orthodox faith.

Almost synonymous with Upyr' but somtimes they are ascribed qualities of Oboroten'.

A water nymph or succubus-like demon who usually lives in a lake. She is usually depicted as having blond hair, which is not surprising. Her eyes shine like a green fire. Men who are seduced by her die in her arms. The word is generally translated as "mermaid".

In a different version, Rusalka is an undead young woman who drowned in or died near a lake (typically, killed by her lover). This kind of Rusalka is not particularly malevolent, and will be allowed to die in peace if her death is avenged.

A spirit that has control over water, primarily fresh water. They are associated with springs, pools, lakes, and rivers. They are, in some versions of fairy tales, said to be married to Rusalkas.

Literally: the Serpent of the Mountain. Not a very nice crearure, said to breathe fire and guard some treasure. Despite their powers, in the fairy tales they are typically killed by some hero, often named Ivan the Idiot, who outsmarts everyone.

A witch but with specific Russian habits. Unlike the Western witches, which come in two varieties -- good and bad -- ved'mas are always bad; they are exclusively women. They often congregate during full moon and dance in the clearings in a cirle in the moonlight. The next morning, one can find a ring of mushrooms, usually Porcinis, where they danced. They have developed two modes of transportation: on the broom and in a mortar (as in mortar and pestle); the older ones, like Baba Yaga, prefer the mortar.

A special kind of Ved'ma. An old ugly woman, bent over, with a walking stick, long hooked nose, and without teeth. Often depicted as being fond of cooked children, usualy boiled in a caldron, not roasted. Often lives in a forest in a small house. The house stands on chicken legs (Izba" na Koorin"nikh Nogakh") and turns to the visitor upon uttering special commands. Often appears in conjunction with Zmei Gorynich.

For a Westerner, the closest approximation would be The Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz with the difference that Baba Yaga wears a head scarf instead of a pointy hat and her face is not green.

Literally, Immortal Bones.

An evil spirit with appearance of a skeleton covered with wrinked skin. The Immortal is not really correct since the reason for his long life is that his death is saved in a needle, that is in an egg, that is in a duck, that is in a hare, that is in a box, that is on the top of an oak, that is on an island in an Ocean. Koschei usually dies when the needle is broken by a hero, often named Ivan the Idiot, at the end of the fairy tale.

A person with magical powers. Koldun is male, Koldun'ia is female. They can be either good or bad, much like the Western witches. They typically do not use mortars or brooms for transportation but can make many magical things happen, so it's probably not beyond their powers but such travels are not mentioned is the lore.

Synonymous with Koldun and Koldun'ia respectivly but often there is an implication that they are good and kind. That is why when a fairy tale talks about bad ones it is always indicated explicitely: "mean volshebnik".

Miscellaneous Lore

Ghouls are a variety of a monster that comes from Arab folklore. The English word comes from Arabic al ghûl. The Arabian ghoul is a desert-dwelling, shapeshifting demon that can transform itself into the guise of an animal, especially a hyena. It robs graves and feeds on the flesh of the dead, or on young children. They also lure travellers into the desert wastes to slay and devour them.

The star Algol, a common name of the star Beta Persei, is also named after this creature from Arabian legend. So is the computer language ALGOL, which may sound a bit ominous for those who maintain the code written in it.

A spirit mentioned in the Koran and believed by Muslims to inhabit the earth. They can appear in the form of humans, or giants, or animals. In some legends a Jinn can be summoned by rubbing a magic lamp. In others, a Jinn can be found sealed in a jar. When summoned, Jinns can perform miracles for the summoner; the number of miracles sometimes is limited.