erlking

See also: erl-king

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

A part-translation of German Erlkönig literally ‘alder-king’, a mistranslation of Danish ellerkonge ‘king of the elves’.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɜːlkɪŋ/

Noun

erlking (plural erlkings)

  1. in German mythology, a giant who preys on children
    • 1962: This line, and indeed the whole passage (lines 653-664), allude to the well-known poem by Goethe about the erlking, hoary enchanter of the elf-haunted alderwood, who falls in love with the delicate little boy of a belated traveler. — Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire

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