ELF, noun plural elves. 1. A wandering spirit; a fairy; a hobgoblin; an imaginary being which our rude ancestors supposed to inhabit unfrequented places, and in various ways to affect mankind. Hence in Scottish, elf-shot is an elf-arrow; an arrow-head of flint, supposed to be shot by elfs; and it signifies also a disease supposed to be produced by the agency of spirits. Every elf and fairy sprite, Hope as light as bird from brier. 2. An evil spirit; a devil. 3. A diminutive person. ELF, verb transitive To entangle hair in so intricate a manner, that it cannot be disentangled. This work was formerly ascribed to elves.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI