Leprawns
Leprawns (or leprechauns) were creatures only appearing in some of the earliest versions of the legendarium. In one passage, the leprawns are seemingly described as a subgroup among the sprites. In early poems, the mysterious character Tinfang is said to have been a leprawn.
Etymology
It has been suggested that the name leprawn is "Tolkien's own peculiar adaptation of leprechaun".
Other writings
The poem Goblin Feet speak of "tiny horns" played by "enchanted leprechauns".
Real-life
Authors Philip and Carol Zaleski recount that:
Tolkien, in response to an undergraduate's query about the truth of dragons and other legends, declared that behind such tales invariably lies something real; he then dug into his pockets and pulled out, along with a ball of string and other detritus, a small green shoe, thin and pointed in the toe, made of leathery substance that felt like reptile skin, and declared it, "stoutly and with apparent sincerity", to be a leprechaun's shoe.
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 27/05/2026.
