Lutin

Lutins were a species of short humanoids, considered part of the Little People.

Santa Claus's toy-making workers were typically elves or lutins. (PROSE: Father Christmas)

Some Lutins were among the non-Gnomes who had been allowed to join the Secret League of the Orange-Bearded Gnomes by the time Jenny Everywhere stumbled into their secret meeting place, alongside Leprechauns, Gnatlings and other such beings. (PROSE: The Interlude of Jenny Everywhere)

Behind the scenes

Lutin is a somewhat generic French term for members of the Little People. They are usually depicted as similar to garden-style Gnomes, or Dwarves, but are sometimes smaller and more pixie-like; some are discreet household helpers, making them similar in behaviour, though not appearance, to Brownies and folkloric Hobgoblins. In some contexts, the term also corresponds to “Elf”, as with Santa Claus's helpers (“Elves” in the English-speaking world, “Lutins” in France). They are also largely equivalent to the Nordic Nisses or Tomtes.