elfish

American  

[el-fish] / ˈɛl fɪʃ /

adjective

1. elflike; elfin; small and mischievous.

   Synonyms:

   impish, prankish

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elfish British  

/ ˈɛlfɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like an elf or elves; charmingly mischievous or sprightly; impish

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noun

1. the supposed language of elves

Other Word Forms

• elfishly adverb
• elfishness noun

Etymology

Origin of elfish

First recorded in 1535–45; alteration of elvish

Example Sentences

He appears elfish and shy as he approaches his instrument.

From Los Angeles Times

The festively decorated Holiday Trolley runs Saturdays in December, complete with elfishly fun facts about Edmonds’ history, and interactions with Emily the Elf are beloved by children and adults alike.

From Seattle Times

The plate of elfish cream puffs was in disarray when the judges came to taste them, but Lynch explained that there had been a fight between North Pole and South Pole elves.

From Seattle Times

For example, he deleted descriptions of him as “an elfish boy” who speaks “defiantly” to Wendy and tries to be “more contemptuous than ever”.

From The Guardian

Dvoskin, 71, is an elfish man with an intense mien, especially during his frequent acoustic bass solos, when the sounds spill off his fingers and roll through the air, one complex harmonic passage after another.

From Washington Post