gremlin

/ˈɡrɛmlɪn/
noun
  1. An imaginary mischievous creature blamed for causing problems or malfunctions, especially in machinery or technology.
    • Every time I try to print, a gremlin seems to jam the paper.
    • A gremlin must have gotten into the engine because the car won't start.
    • The pilot joked that gremlins were responsible for the strange noise in the cockpit.
  2. A person who causes trouble or creates problems, often in a playful or annoying way.
    • Don't be a gremlin and mess up the game board while we're playing.
    • My little brother is a gremlin who hides my keys every morning.
    • The office gremlin keeps moving everyone's coffee mugs to different desks.
What does "gremlin" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean