01 n. An imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt hills and…
pl.
Elves ((ĕlvz))
-
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.“Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier.” — Shak.
-
2.
A very diminutive person; a dwarf.
Phrases & compounds
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 —
a small owl (Micrathene Whitneyi) of Southern California and Arizona.