Lesovik
/ˈlɛsəvɪk/noun
A forest spirit in Slavic folklore, related to the leshy.
Did you know?The Lesovik belongs to the same supernatural family as the better-known leshy, a shape-shifting woodland spirit believed to confuse travelers and guard the forest.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Slavic
Proto-Slavic
*lěsъ
“Forest or woodland”
Old Russian period
Old Russian
лѣсъ (lěsŭ)
“Forest; wooded land”
Medieval Russian
Russian
лес (les)
“Forest or woods”
Modern Russian
Russian
лесови́к (lesovik)
“A forest being or woodland spirit, formed from les, “forest””
20th Century
English
lesovik
“An English transliteration used for a Slavic forest spirit”