Metaphorical uses The expression "Gnomes of Zurich", Swiss bankers pictured as diminutive creatures hoarding gold in subterranean vaults, was derived from a speech in 1956 by Harold Wilson, and gained currency in the 1960s (OED notes the New Statesman'' issue of 27 November 1964 as earliest attestation). Architect Earl Young built a number of stone houses in Charlevoix, Michigan, that have been referred to as gnome homes. A user of Wikipedia or any wiki who makes useful incremental edits without clamouring for attention is called a WikiGnome.
Metaphorical uses The expression "Gnomes of Zurich", Swiss bankers pictured as diminutive creatures hoarding gold in subterranean vaults, was derived from a speech in 1956 by Harold Wilson, and gained currency in the 1960s (OED notes the New Statesman'' issue of 27 November 1964 as earliest attestation) Architect Earl Young built a number of stone houses in Charlevoix Michigan, that have been referred to as gnome homes. A user of Wikipedia or any wiki who makes useful incremental edits without clamouring for attention is called a WikiGnome.