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noun

Elf n. (pl. elves)

An imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt hills and wild places, and generally represented as delighting in mischievous tricks. "Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier."

A very diminutive person; a dwarf.

Elf arrow, a flint arrowhead; so called by the English rural folk who often find these objects of prehistoric make in the fields and formerly attributed them to fairies; called also elf bolt, elf dart, and elf shot.

Elf child, a child supposed to be left by elves, in room of one they had stolen. See Changeling.

Elf fire, the ignis fatuus.

Elf owl (Zoöl.), a small owl (Micrathene Whitneyi) of Southern California and Arizona.

verb

Elf v. t. To entangle mischievously, as an elf might do. "Elf all my hair in knots."

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Etymology of 'Elf'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Elf" Quotes from Famous Books

... white come in at the window, who cut off his hair as he slept, and then went out by the same window: on awaking, he found his hair scattered about on the floor. To what can these things be attributed, if not to an elf? ...

— The Phantom World - or, The philosophy of spirits, apparitions, &c, &c. • Augustin Calmet

... are usually quite ready to play the elf in the rose-garden of love," replied Heinz gaily. "Moreover, I shall soon need a T and an S embroidered on my own doublet, for——Why don't they bring the light? Another cup of wine, the note, and then with renewed vigour we'll go ...

— Uarda • Georg Ebers

... of all deserve the name of "bugges" for no elf or hobgoblin was ever more bizarre. Their legs and heads and bodies are small and aphid-like, but aloft there spring minarets and handles and towers and thorns and groups of hairy balls, out of all reason and sense. Only Stegosaurus ...

— Edge of the Jungle • William Beebe

... dearest children, when with joy You hailed your father's safe return to home From his long mountain toils; for when he came He ever brought some little present with him. A lovely Alpine flower—a curious bird— Or elf-boat found by wanderers on the hills. But now he goes in quest of other game: In the wild pass he sits, and broods on murder; And watches for the life-blood of his foe, But still his thoughts are fixed on you alone, Dear children. ...

— The Works of Frederich Schiller in English • Frederich Schiller

... kindred type we find the tales of: The boy who ran off with the horn out of which an elf-maiden offered him a drink, and would not return it until she had promised to bestow upon him the strength of twelve men, with which, unluckily, went also the appetite of twelve men ...

— The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought • Alexander F. Chamberlain

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