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That's interesting that it means "noisy goblin" (I assume you're certain of the translation?). According to a book I read* this was originally an allegorical tale (as many Fairy Tales are) about female virtue and morality, and involved the creature - Rumplestiltskin in English - appearing from and returning to a rather intimate part of the female character's anatomy. Take a close look at the name - what's a stilt with a rumpled skin? :-S The book was well-researched, and cited the name used in the original version, which meant the same thing (I wish I had the book with me!). I wonder whether the German etymology is a co-incidence or a deliberate changing of the words to change the meaning? Very interesting!

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*the non-fiction philosophical treatise "The Science of Discworld II: The Globe" by Terry Pratchett, Jack Cohen and someone else whose name slips my mind . . .

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edit: added two missing words!

This message was edited 9/28/2004, 12:04 AM