| elf | Origin: AS. Aelf, ylf; akin to MHG. Alp, G. Alp nightmare, incubus, Icel. Ltr elf, Sw. Alf, elfva; cf. Skr. Rbhu 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. <zoology> Elf owl, a small owl (Micrathene Whitneyi) of Southern California and Arizona. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| elfin facies | Facies characterised by a short, upturned nose, wide mouth, widely spaced eyes, and full cheeks; it may be associated with hypercalcaemia, supravalvar aortic stenosis, and mental retardation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elfish | Of or relating to the elves; elflike; implike; weird; scarcely human; mischievous, as though caused by elves. "Elfish light." "The elfish intelligence that was so familiar an expression on her small physiognomy." (Hawthorne) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| elfishly | In an elfish manner. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| elfishness | The quality of being elfish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |