gremlin
noun/ˈɡremlɪn/
/ˈɡremlɪn/
- an imaginary creature that people blame when a machine suddenly stops working
- They blamed gremlins in the printer for the fact that the work was late.
- What wrong with this program? Looks like the gremlins have been at work again!
Word Origin1940s: perhaps suggested by goblin.Definitions on the go
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gremlin