Hypertext Webster Gateway: "elf"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird
from brier. --Shak.
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} (Zo["o]l.), a small owl ({Micrathene Whitneyi}) of
Southern California and Arizona.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Elf \Elf\, v. t.
To entangle mischievously, as an elf might do.
Elf all my hair in knots. --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Elves \Elves\, n.; pl. of {Elf}. Elvish \Elv"ish\, a.
1. Pertaining to elves; implike; mischievous; weird; also,
vacant; absent in demeanor. See {Elfish}.
He seemeth elvish by his countenance. --Chaucer.
2. Mysterious; also, foolish. [Obs.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
elf
n 1: (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous [syn: {hob},
{gremlin}, {pixie}, {pixy}, {brownie}, {imp}]
2: below 3 kilohertz [syn: {extremely low frequency}, {ELF}]
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