clurichaun

== English == === Alternative forms === cluracan, cluracaun, cluricaun, cluricaune, clúrachán === Etymology === From Irish clutharachán, from Irish cluthar (“sheltered, cosy; secretive”) + Irish -achán (“diminutive suffix”) (compare same suffix in Irish leipreachán and lucharachán (“leprechaun”)). William Butler Yeats, citing folklorist Nicholas O'Kearney, derives it from clobhair-ceann, from clobhair (“hunched, bent”) + ceann (“head”), but this lacks semantic plausibility. === Noun === clurichaun (plural clurichauns) (Irish folklore) A mischievous, potentially malicious fairy, akin to the leprechaun, that greatly loves drinking and tends to haunt breweries, pubs and wine cellars. 2016, Keith B. Darrell, Flashbacks: Fangs & Fur, Book 1, Amber Book Company, unnumbered page, "Clurichauns are Dark Fae cousins of leprechauns," Aurae explained. "Unlike their Seelie Court cousins, the clurichauns drink to excess and are seldom sober. But despite always being drunk, the clurichauns are impeccably groomed and well-dressed... although they can be a bit surly." ==== Usage notes ==== Sometimes described as a trickster. Others claim that a well-looked-after clurichaun will care for and protect one's cellar. ==== References ==== === Further reading === Irish folklore on Wikipedia.Wikipedia