tommyknocker

English

Etymology

From Cornwall.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈtɒmiːnɒkə/

Noun

tommyknocker (plural tommyknockers)

  1. (folklore) A mythical creature, like a brownie or leprechaun, believed to live in underground tunnels; later associated with dead miners.
    • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 335:
      Then he's down one of these adits, talking to the tommyknockers, more'n likely.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.