Elf-arrow

"Elf arrows" set in silver

Elf-Arrows were arrowheads of flint used in hunting and war by the aborigines of the British Isles and of Europe generally, as they still are among native people elsewhere. Elf-Arrows derived their name from the folklore belief that the arrows fell from the sky, and were used by the Elves to kill cattle and inflict Elfshot on human beings.[1] Also called 'pixie arrows', according to English folklore.[2]

Elf-Arrows were sometimes worn as amulets, occasionally set in silver, as a charm against witchcraft.[3]

See also

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "Elf-arrows". The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne. 

  1. Merriam -Webster Dictionary: Elf Arrow
  2. Carrington, C.E. & JAckson, J. Hampden. "A History of England" CUP Archive, 1919. p. 3
  3. Electric Scotland. "Scottish Charms and Amulets" Elf-Arrows
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 1/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.