English

elf-maiden

From elf + maiden.

A compound of elf + maiden

Proto-Indo-European *albʰós ‘white’

Proto-Germanic *albiz

Proto-West Germanic *albi ‘elf, fairy’

Old English ielf

Middle English elf ‘elf, fairy’

English elf

Proto-Indo-European *mogʰus ‘boy’

…

Proto-West Germanic *magaþ

Old English mæġeþ ‘girl’

Old English mæġden ‘girl’

Middle English mayden

Today it means

noun elfmaid, a female elf.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / elf-maiden