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 on children

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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