Meanings
kallikantzaros1
plural kallikantzaroi
- A mythical, malevolent goblin-like spirit of Southeastern European and Anatolian folklore.
"The kallikantzaros was not intimidated by my feeble cries.
1942, Teukros Anthias, Cyprus Village Tales2 more examples
"This view is taken by Allatius, who says that a Kallikantzaros has all the characteristics of nightmare, rampaging on men's shoulders, then leaving them half senseless on the ground.
2011, Clement A. Miles, The Christmas Troll and Other Yuletide Stories"Nick is Nick Papdoukis and he's a Kallikantzaros. In Greek lore, Kallikantzaroi are goblins who snatch children.
2012, K. Bennett, The Beast Within
Kallikantzaros2
Origin
kallikantzaros · noun
There is some debate about the etymology of this term. Berhand Schmidt conjectures that it is derived from two Turkish words meaning "black" and "werewolf". Paulikianos suggest that it is a euphemistic term combining kalos “handsome”, cf. an Arm. word for demons, mezmé aléknerë “the ones better (or prettier) than us”.
Full word history & related roots →Kallikantzaros · proper noun
- Greekκαλλικάντζαρος
- Greekκαλλικάντζαρος
- EnglishKallikantzaros
Borrowed from Greek καλλικάντζαρος (kallikántzaros).
More words from Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
kallikantzaros. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kallikantzaros
“kallikantzaros.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kallikantzaros. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kallikantzaros,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kallikantzaros.
Source: kallikantzaros on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.