alf
1
9.9
- noun
- Archaic
:
alf
- The children believed that an alf lived in the old oak tree behind their house.
Examples
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Wanted an 'alf caste.
Fiction book (1991) -
Ed thought I was alf, and he kept muttering anti-semitic comments.
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'Round a brazier, 'alf in the gutter.
Fiction book (1993) -
I'll have 'alf.
-
Right, 'ere you are, love… 'alf a pound.
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Perhaps it is time to regard SNFs, ALFs, LTACHs, and other post-acute care providers as allies rather than competitors.
Blog text (2) -
According to folklore, the alf danced in the moonlight, spreading magic across the forest.
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In stories, an alf often helps lost travelers find their way home.
Synonyms
99
6.1
A small magical creature with pointed ears that often plays tricks
5
9.9
A magical being like a fairy in stories and legends
1
9.9
A ghost or goblin from Scottish and northern English stories
A mischievous spirit from Celtic stories that appears as an animal and plays tricks
A magical creature from Orkney and Shetland stories that plays tricks on people
Surface Forms
Etymology
Alf comes from an old German word ælf, the same as our familiar elf and the Old Norse álfr, all meaning 'elf' or a 'small magical being' in stories. So alf is simply an old name for that kind of creature in tales.