A gnome is a mythological creature and spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature. Its characteristics have been reinterpreted to suit the needs of various story tellers, but it is typically said to be a small humanoid that lives underground.

The usage of statues of gnomes as lawn ornaments started during the 19th century. They grew in popularity during the 20th century and came to be known as garden gnomes.

Gnome - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia