erlking

American  

[url-king] / ˈɜrlˌkɪŋ /

noun

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

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erlking British  

/ ˈɜːlˌkɪŋ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of erlking

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

From the wrist alone such pieces as "The Erlking" cannot be played, because the wrist alone gives us neither the power nor the speed that such pieces require.

From Project Gutenberg