Faun
/fɔːn/noun
A Roman nature spirit associated with forests, fields, and fertility; later, a goat-legged woodland being in art and literature.
Did you know?Fauns were linked to Faunus, an old Italic deity whose name may be connected to speaking or prophecy, which is why these beings often feel half-animal, half-oracular in later tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“to speak, tell, or say”
Old Latin
Latin
Faunus
“an Italic rustic deity of fields, forests, and fertility”
Latin
Latin
faunus
“a rural nature spirit or attendant of Faunus”
Late Latin
Latin
faunus
“a faun, a woodland spirit”
Middle English
English
faun
“a faun; later, a goat-legged woodland creature in classical and artistic tradition”
Modern English
English
faun
“a classical woodland spirit, usually depicted with goat-like features”