English
erlking
Erlking comes from Danish ellerkonge ‘king of the elves’.
- Danishmodernellerkonge‘king of the elves’
- Englishearliest quotation 1962erlking
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Danishmodernellerkonge‘king of the elves’
- Englishearliest quotation 1962erlking
Earliest quotation: 1962, Charles Kinbote pseudonym; Vladimir Nabo, Pale Fire: “This line, and indeed the whole passage (lines 653-664),…”
Every English word from Danish ellerkonge
Today it means
noun In German literature and modern folklore, a malicious elf or spirit who preys on children.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Danish ellerkonge / erlking