Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In German and Scandinavian poetical mythology, a personified natural power which devises and works mischief, especially to children.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A personification, in German and Scandinavian mythology, of a spirit or natural power supposed to work mischief and ruin, esp. to children.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun in German mythology, a
giant who preys onchildren
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
A part-translation of German Erlkönig literally ‘alder-king’, a mistranslation of Danish ellerkonge ‘king of the elves’.
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Examples
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