brownie

brownie in Celtic folklore, household spirit associated with farmsteads. Brownies help with chores, but, if criticized, they will make mischief, such as spoiling crops. If payment other than food is offered a brownie, he vanishes from a farm forever.

brownie especially in Scottish folklore, a benevolent elf supposedly haunting houses and doing housework secretly. The name is a diminutive of brown; a ‘wee brown man’ often appears in Scottish ballads and fairy tales, and may be compared with the Old Norse svartálfar, the dark elves of the Edda.

Brownies (now Brownie Guides) are the junior wing of the Guides, wearing a brown uniform; the organization awards points and badges for proficiency in various activities.


brownie point an imaginary award given to someone who does good deeds or tries to please.

brownie. A friendly goblin or sprite of Scottish Gaelic folklore whose name seems to be known exclusively in the English form, which derives from the earlier ‘little brown man’. The brownie wears a brown hood, attaches himself to families, and may reside in farm-houses or barns. He does the chores at night when people sleep; he has even been known to assist in childbirth. If criticized the brownie may revenge himself by breaking dishes, spilling milk, driving the cows astray, or spoiling the crops. Although always thought to be of Scottish Gaelic origin, the brownie is widely known in other parts of the British Isles and the English-speaking world. The brownie has much in common with the kobold of Germanic folklore and may be classed as a solitary fairy, despite its benevolence. See also the Welsh PWCA/BWCI, the Manx FENODYREE, the Cornish PISKIE or pixie, and the Scottish Gaelic BODACH.