grey folk en · NOUN
Meanings
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(Scotland, plural, plural-only) elves, the fae, the wee folk.
One of the most important of all Yuletide observances was the 'saining' required to guard life or properties from the Trows. If the proper observances were omitted, the 'grey-folk' were sure to take advantage of the opportunity.
1888, Biot Edmonndston, Jessie Saxby, The Home of a Naturalist, page 136: