From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgremlingrem‧lin /ˈɡremlɪn/ noun [countable] RFan imaginary evil spirit that is blamed for problems in machinery
Examples from the Corpus
gremlin• Is there a gremlin outside, chewing on the wing of the plane?• Although both services have been dogged by Internet gremlins, IF.com has yet to launch on the Web.• Let's just say that there were rather too many technical gremlins around.• These things happen to the most confident of video users and the gremlins always seem to choose their moment with great care.• The gremlins have been at work again!• I work for this gremlin named Spider.• More recently, stories have circulated that mechanical or electrical faults in factories are due to gremlins taking over the working of machines.• You're absolutely right Stephen, the formula should be W - gremlins in the computer again!Origin gremlin (1900-2000) Perhaps from Irish Gaelic gruaimin “angry little man”; influenced by goblin 