2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. --Dryden.
{Fairy bird} (Zo["o]l.), the Euoropean little tern ({Sterna
minuta}); -- called also {sea swallow}, and {hooded tern}.
{Fairy bluebird}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Bluebird}.
{Fairy martin} (Zo["o]l.), a European swallow ({Hirrundo
ariel}) that builds flask-shaped nests of mud on
overhanging cliffs.
{Fairy} {rings or circles}, the circles formed in grassy
lawns by certain fungi (as {Marasmius Oreades}), formerly
supposed to be caused by fairies in their midnight dances.
{Fairy shrimp} (Zo["o]l.), a European fresh-water phyllopod
crustacean ({Chirocephalus diaphanus}); -- so called from
its delicate colors, transparency, and graceful motions.
The name is sometimes applied to similar American species.
{Fairy stone} (Paleon.), an echinite.
The God of her has made an end, And fro this
worlde's fairy Hath taken her into company. --Gower.
2. The country of the fays; land of illusions. [Obs.]
He [Arthur] is a king y-crowned in Fairy. --Lydgate.
3. An imaginary supernatural being or spirit, supposed to
assume a human form (usually diminutive), either male or
female, and to meddle for good or evil in the affairs of
mankind; a fay. See {Elf}, and {Demon}.
The fourth kind of spirit [is] called the Fairy.
--K. James.
And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and
fairies in a ring. --Shak.
5. An enchantress. [Obs.] --Shak.
{Fairy of the mine}, an imaginary being supposed to inhabit
mines, etc. German folklore tells of two species; one
fierce and malevolent, the other gentle, See {Kobold}.
No goblin or swart fairy of the mine Hath hurtful
power over true virginity. --Milton.