fabelwezen

From fabel (“fable”) +‎ wezen (“creature”), calque of German Fabelwesen. First attested in the late eighteenth century.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfaː.bəlˌʋeː.zən/
• Hyphenation: fa‧bel‧we‧zen

fabelwezen n (plural fabelwezens, diminutive fabelwezentje n)

1. mythical, legendary or otherwise imaginary creature
   • 1786, J. G. Herder, De geest der Hebreeuwsche poëzy, volume 3, page 28:

     Men herleeze Bocharts (e) zesde boek, over de verdichte dieren, en men herinnere zig de menigvuldige Fabel-wezens in de Oosterſche vertellingen.

     One should reread Bochart's (e) sixth book, about the fictional animals, and one should remember the manifold mythical creatures in the Oriental stories.

• fabeldier