elle-people en · NOUN
Etymology
Calque of Danish ellefolk.
Meanings
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(plural, plural-only) A type of elf of Scandinavian folklore.
It is also necessary to watch cattle so that they may not graze in any place where the Elle-people have been. If any animal goes to a place where the Elle-people have spit or done what is worse, it is attacked by some grievous disease, which can only be cured by giving it a handful of St. John's wort, which was pulled at twelve o'clock on St. John's night.
1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 140:"I tremble at the very thought of the Elle-people of whom our villagers tell, while thou hast not a single fear. Why is it, sister?"
1861, Dinah Craik, Romantic Tales, Leipzip: Berhard Tauchnitz, page 164: