erlking

[ url-king ]

noun

1. a spirit or personified natural power that works mischief, especially to children.

erlking

/ ˈɜːlˌkɪŋ /

noun

1. German myth a malevolent spirit who carries children off to death

Word History and Origins

Origin of erlking¹

1790–1800; < German Erlkönig alder (tree) king, J. G. von Herder's mistrans. of Danish ellerkonge, variant of elverkonge king of the elves

Word History and Origins

Origin of erlking¹

C18: from German Erlkönig, literally: alder king, coined in 1778 by Herder, a mistranslation of Danish ellerkonge king of the elves

Example Sentences

And in this story, the gold-spinning lie is her own — a tale spun to save two magical maidens from the Erlking.

From New York Times

“The Erlking,” the first story in “Likes” by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, has all of the elements that appear in the rest of the book.

From Los Angeles Times

This blurring of the real and unreal, of fictional dreams and waking life, is a feature of other stories in “Likes,” such as “The Erlking” or “The Young Wife’s Tale.”

From New York Times

Georges Schwizgebel – “Erlking,” “Romance”

From Los Angeles Times

Erlking, Liszt arrangement of the, 32.

From Project Gutenberg