Elf Dictionary
image and content © 2004 Becky Crandall & Kathie Cureington
 

Contributing Editors:

Peter E. Poppinstuff
Edmond The Elf
Elfinius Fog
Elfa Fitzgerald
Edgar Elfwin
Ivan Romanelf
Timothy Elfman
Claude Crandelf

History:

The elves at the North Pole, or the Christmas elves, speak every language in the world. Although it is known that they once had a language of their own, it has been lost over time and only certain words remain. If you are ever in the presence of elves, you may hear some of these words spoken and think of them only as gibberish. This dictionary, although most certainly incomplete, contains many of the Christmas elf words that have passed the test of time and are still in common use today.

*This language is very simple, as the elves are a sensible folk and most words are spelled exactly how they sound. For the few exceptions to this rule, we have provided a pronunciation.

Alopron – (pr. al-op-roan) Christmas or the celebration of Christmas.

apstat – ornament or decoration

blok – home or dwelling

bobafett – the elf hat, typically green or red, pointed at the top and having a bell at the tip

bobber - hammer

bot - drinking cup, usually fancy, to drink chillsapp from

broussar - A little movement elves make with their hand,
fingers in a fist, thumb pointing up—that  means, good, okay, excellent.

bruni - Bears, alive or toys

buebamuf – (pr. boob-a-moof) the extreme feeling of love allowing for emotional support and understanding through the connection of two souls.

cheddup – reindeer

chiff - high, musical elf laughter

chillsapp - Christmas fermented drink, made from winterberries

cort - nail

derwas – peppermint candy or candy cane

dumas - a magic cloth, used to make toys

elvom – cat or kitten

frewin – the Christmas tree

goathar – sled or sleigh, often in reference to Santa’s yearly trip on Christmas Eve

grupant – jokester, prankster or wisecracker elf

heft - screw

heftweller - screwdriver

hetmal – the toyshop or workshop where the elves work and play

hoyp – dog or puppy

jewbee - eyeglasses

jublam – Santa’s yearly trip on Christmas Eve

kanith – family

kee - magic ball used to play keekee(a one inch clear ball of a rubbery material)

keegob - multicolored stick with streamers on the top used to play keekee

keekee - elf game, played outside to relax

*Keekee is played with 12 elves on each team. One side wears red hats, the other side green.  The Team up at bat forms a line. The elf at bat pulls his hat (bobafett) over his eyes and holds the keegob (stick) upright in both hands. The other team lines up and has the magic kee(ball) They toss the kee at the keegob. Whatever color it sticks to the last elf in line has to run to the pole of that color. The elf with the stick goes to the end of the line. If the ball doesn’t stay on the stick but falls to the ground, or sticks to a color already taken, the elf holding the stick is out and must go back to work. Four outs and the teams change sides. Other elves can join the team to keep 12 players at all times. When all 12 players can get an elf on a color pole they win the game. There are 12 colors on the stick and 12 poles in a circle on the field.  The losing team has to run in a circle inside the poles where the winning elves are standing and sing them a Christmas song (riksum) This is a very hard game to win so usually the elves all have to go back to work before one team wins.

kif – tools used by the elves in the making of items in their workshop. Although they resemble regular tools, it is believed that there are slight differences and possibly magical qualities making them much more precise and useful.

Krinsa – Santa Claus

lagneb - (lag-ebb) a lucky token some elves carry in their pocket (meech) or wear on a cord around their neck. They are usually decorated with trinks (stars)

libret – mistletoe, or the kissing tree

meech - pants or apron pocket.

migre – (pr. mig-ree) gift or present

natha – snow, or the winter season

obba – parent or caretaker

Obba Krinsa – Father Christmas, the formal name for Santa Claus

Pink - (pin-cuh) an elfin musical instrument with wood body and 4 strings

pinkin - (pin-cuh-in)- music, cheerful, to accompany the riksum (singing)

phyplo - (fli-plu)-book

poglor – children

poggle – child

quitsee-  pipe

quitleef - tobacco

reet - needle

rik – (pr. rike) greeting; wishes of peace, joy, and happiness

riksum - happy Christmas song, made up of many verses

rimbula - Christmas feasts

rulae - (rul) thread

Seltin – the race of elves that would become known as the Christmas elves or Santa’s elves

sewbabies – assistance, especially in toy making

snizz - paint

snizzgob - brush

spangler - magic dust

squige - pliers

strobbli – Christmas lights or a hearth fire

torkue - wreath of Chrismas decorations

tradel – cookies

trinks – stars

tuties - scissors

vibue - (pr. vi-boo) girl or woman

Woslopro – Merry Christmas

yemuef – (pr. ye-moof) boy or man

yensle – magical shoes made for the elves by Santa Claus when they arrived at the North Pole. The shoes have pointed and slightly curled toes with a bell at the tip and have the magic of youth and warmth, along with others not understood by non-elves.
 
 

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