A satyr is a creature from ancient Greek mythology that looks like a combination of a human and a goat. Picture a man with goat legs, hooves, and small horns on his head, sometimes with a tail and pointed ears too. Satyrs lived in forests and mountains, where they loved music, dancing, and causing mischief.

In Greek myths, satyrs were companions of Dionysus, the god of wine and celebration. They played panpipes and drums and generally behaved in wild, unruly ways. Writers and artists portrayed them as creatures of impulse, more interested in fun and pleasure than in following rules or thinking ahead.

You'll find satyrs in many classic stories and artworks. The character Mr. Tumnus from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is actually a faun, which is a similar Roman nature spirit (though C.S. Lewis made him much more polite and civilized than the rowdy satyrs of Greek myth). When someone calls another person satyr-like, they usually mean that person is being wild, reckless, or completely ruled by their desires rather than their better judgment.