dobbies

Dobbies are small household spirits in English and Scottish folklore, typically helpful creatures that perform domestic chores at night.

The term appears in regional dialects of Northern England and Scotland, where these sprites were believed to assist with farm work or housekeeping in exchange for small offerings.

In weaving, a dobby is a mechanism that controls the harnesses on a loom to create simple geometric patterns, and dobbies refers to fabrics woven using this technique.