gremlin

Possibly from Middle English gremly (“terrible”) (compare Old English gremman, gremian (“to provoke; irritate; anger; vex”)) +‎ -lin, -ling; related to German grämen, Swedish gräma (“to grieve”). Compare goblin.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹɛm.lɪn/

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gremlin (plural gremlins)

1. A mythical creature reputed to be mischievously inclined to damage or dismantle machinery.
2. (by extension) Any mysterious, unknown source of trouble or mischief.

   We rechecked everything, and we suspect gremlins in the database.

• merling, mingler