| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Folk. | | |
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Fairies, also called “people,” “neighbours,” “wights.” The Germans have their kleine volk (little folk), the Swiss their hill people and earth people. | 1 |
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| “The little folk, |
| So happy and so gay, amuse themselves |
| Sometimes with singing … |
| Sometimes with dancing, when they jump and spring |
| Like the young skipping kids in the Alp-grass.” | |
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Wyss: Idyll of Gertrude and Rosy. |
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| “In the hinder end of harvest, at All-hallow e en, |
| When our good neighbours ride, if I read right, |
| Some buckled on beenwand, and some on a been.” | |
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Montgomery: Flyting against Polwart. |
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| “I crouchë thee from the elvës, and from wights.” | |
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Chaucer: The Millere’s Tale. |
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