brownie

brownie · noun¹

From brown + -ie (diminutive suffix). In folkloric sense, originally Scots. For sense 7, compare with Dutch kabouter (“a very young female member of the scout movement”) (literally "gnome").

Brownie · noun²

From brownie (“a helpful elf”). Specifically, inspired by the story "The Brownies" by Juliana Horatia Ewing (published in 1870, The Brownies and Other Tales), in which two children, Tommy and Betty, learn that children can be helpful brownies or lazy boggarts. But compare with Dutch kabouter (“a very young female member of the scout movement”) (literally, a "gnome").

Brownie · proper noun³

From Brown + -ie.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1897 A small square piece of rich cake, usually made with chocolate.
• from 1883 A sweet bread with brown sugar and currants.
• from 1510s A mythical creature, a helpful elf who would secretly do people's housework for them.