'goblin' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'gobelin,' which was derived from Old French 'gobelin,' where 'gobelin' meant 'a mischievous spirit or imp.'

'gobelin' transformed into the English word 'goblin' during the Middle Ages, retaining its association with mischievous creatures.

Initially, it meant 'a mischievous spirit or imp,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.