puck

UK: pʌk | US: pʌk

Definition

  1. n. a hard rubber disc used in ice hockey

  2. n. (folklore) a mischievous sprite or fairy

Structure

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Etymology

The word "puck" has two distinct origins:

  1. Ice hockey sense: Likely derived from the verb "to puck" (dialectal English meaning "to strike"), influenced by Irish "poc" (a stroke in hurling) or Scottish Gaelic "puc" (to poke). The hockey puck's name reflects its role as an object struck during play.
  2. Folklore sense: Traced to Old English "pūca" (a goblin or evil spirit), related to Norse "púki" (a mischievous demon). The term evolved in folklore to describe trickster creatures, popularized later by Shakespeare's "Puck" in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Examples

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