Erl-king

Erl-king

E5204850 (ûrl′kĭng′)n. In Germanic folklore, a spirit or creature that dwells in the forest and captures people, carrying them off to their deaths.
[Partial translation of German Erlkönig, alteration and partial translation of earlier Danish elverkonge, ellekonge, elf-king (taken by Johann Gottfried von Herder in his translation of a Danish ballad as "alder-king," influenced by German Erle, alder, since the alder is associated with the supernatural in Germanic myth and folklore) : elv, elf; see albho- in Indo-European roots + konge, king.]