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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Elf owl

Elf \Elf\ ([e^]lf), n.; pl. Elves ([e^]lvz). [AS. [ae]lf, ylf; akin to MHG. alp, G. alp nightmare, incubus, Icel. [=a]lfr elf, Sw. alf, elfva; cf. Skr. [.r]bhu skillful, artful, rabh to grasp. Cf. Auf, Oaf.]

  1. An imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt hills and wild places, and generally represented as delighting in mischievous tricks.

    Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier.
    --Shak.

  2. A very diminutive person; a dwarf.

    Elf arrow, a flint arrowhead; -- so called by the English rural folk who often find these objects of prehistoric make in the fields and formerly attributed them to fairies; -- called also elf bolt, elf dart, and elf shot.

    Elf child, a child supposed to be left by elves, in room of one they had stolen. See Changeling.

    Elf fire, the ignis fatuus.
    --Brewer.

    Elf owl (Zo["o]l.), a small owl ( Micrathene Whitneyi) of Southern California and Arizona.

Wiktionary
elf owl

n. ''Micrathene whitneyi'', a small owl of North America.

Wikipedia
Elf owl

The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is a member of the owl family Strigidae, that breeds in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is the world's lightest owl, although the long-whiskered owlet and the Tamaulipas pygmy owl are of a similarly diminutive length. The mean body weight of this species is . These tiny owls are long and have a wingspan of about . Their primary projection extends nearly past their tail. They have fairly long legs and often appear bow-legged. They can often be heard calling to one another just after dusk or at sunset. Their call is a high-pitched whinny or chuckle. The male and female dart around trees and call back and forth.