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erlking

[url-king]

noun (in German and Scandinavian mythology)

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

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

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Erlking is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

erlking (ˈɜːlˌkɪŋ)

—n
	German myth a malevolent spirit who carries children off to death

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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erlking

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