Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Elf
Elf
(ĕlf)
, Noun.
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
Hop as light as bird from brier.
elf
, and fairy sprite,Hop as light as bird from brier.
Shakespeare
2.
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.
Brewer.
– Elf owl
(Zoöl.)
, a small owl (
Micrathene Whitneyi
) of Southern California and Arizona.Elf
,Verb.
T.
To entangle mischievously, as an elf might do.
Elf
all my hair in knots. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Elf
ELF
,Noun.
plu.
1.
A wandering spirit; a fairy; a hobgoblin; an imaginary being which our rude ancestors supposed to inhabit unfrequented places, and in various ways to affect mankind. Hence in Scottish, elf-shot is an elf-arrow; an arrow-head of flint, supposed to be shot by elfs; and it signifies also a disease supposed to be produced by the agency of spirits.Every elf, and fairy sprite,
Hope as light as bird from brier.
2.
An evil spirit; a devil.3.
A diminutive person.ELF
,Verb.
T.