Small, mischievous fairy creatures from Irish folklore, traditionally depicted as old men who make shoes and guard pots of gold.
From Irish 'leipreachán', possibly from 'lú' (small) and 'corp' (body), or from 'leath bhrogan' (shoemaker). The word entered English in the 17th century through Anglo-Irish usage, becoming popularized in folklore collections.
Leprechauns were originally portrayed as solitary, grumpy craftsmen rather than the cheerful, green-clad figures of modern popular culture - their association with rainbows and pots of gold is a relatively recent American invention that diverged significantly from traditional Irish folklore.
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