/el"fin/ , adj.
1. of or like an elf.
2. small and charmingly spritely, merry, or mischievous.
n.
3. an elf.
[ 1560-70; alter. of ME elven elf, OE elfen, aelfen nymph, equiv. to aelf elf + -en fem. suffix (c. G -in ); aelf c. G Alp nightmare, puck, ON alfr elf ]