noun
one-eyed goblin; one-eyed monster
A yōkai from Japanese folklore, typically depicted as a child-like creature with a single eye in the center of its face. Often appears in ghost stories and local legends.
一つ目小僧は、夜道で出会うと驚かされる妖怪だ。
The one-eyed goblin is a yōkai that startles you if you meet it on a night road.
Compound of 一つ目 (hitotsume, 'one eye') and 小僧 (kozō, 'young boy' or 'apprentice'), describing the creature's appearance. The exact origin of the folklore is uncertain.