What are gnomes?

Answer 1

Gnome \Gnome\, n. [F. gnome, prob. fr. Gr. gnw`mon one that knows, a guardian, i. e., of the treasures in the inner parts of the earth, or fr. ? intelligence, both fr. gnw^nai, gignw^skein, to know. See Know.]

1. An imaginary being, supposed by the Rosicrucians to inhabit the inner parts of the earth, and to be the guardian of mines, quarries, etc. 2. A dwarf; a goblin; a person of small stature or misshapen features, or of strange appearance. 3. (Zo["o]l.) A small owl (Glaucidium gnoma) of the Western United States. 4. [Gr. ?.]

A brief reflection or maxim. --Peacham. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)