- Micrathene Whitneyi
- Elf Elf ([e^]lf), n.; pl. {Elves} ([e^]lvz). [AS. [ae]lf, ylf;
akin to MHG. alp, G. alp nightmare, incubus, Icel. [=a]lfr
elf, Sw. alf, elfva; cf. Skr. [.r]bhu skillful, artful, rabh
to grasp. Cf. {Auf}, {Oaf}.]
1. 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.
[1913 Webster]
Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. A very diminutive person; a dwarf. [1913 Webster]
{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. --Brewer.
{Elf owl} (Zo["o]l.), a small owl ({Micrathene Whitneyi}) of Southern California and Arizona. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
