1. Of or pertaining to elves; having the nature of an elf; supernatural, weird.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 681. Wyth an aluisch mon.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Chan. Yem. Prol. & T., 198. Whan we been there as we shul exercise Oure Eluysshe craft.
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., Defiance to Enuie, 49 (1602), A 4. Or scoure the rusted swords of Eluish knigh[t]es, Bathed in Pagan blood.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, I. xxi. Wild sparkles … the vessel’s side With elvish lustre lave.
1834. Beckford, Italy, II. 77. It is too hot for these oracular little elvish beings in Portugal.
1840. Lytton, Pilgr. Rhine, xxx. Elvish spells.
2. Like an elf in behavior: † a. Spiteful, cross-grained, peevish; also transf. of diseases, Irritating, troublesome (obs.). b. Now in a milder sense: Tricksy, mischievous (cf. ELFISH).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sir Thopas, Prol. 13. He semeth eluyssh by his contenance.
1529. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1182/2. Eye, what eyleth this gyrle? that eluish vrchin weneth I wer a diuell I trow.
1549. Cheke, Hurt. Sedit. (1641), 14. Where … prating is judged wisdome, and the elvishest is most meet to rule.
1566. Studley, Seneca’s Agam. (1581), A b. Thou malipert and witlesse wench, thyne elvishe prating stay.
1601. Dent, Pathw. Heaven, 389. Hee regardeth not our infirmities, though we be often times waiward and eluish.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 258. Sow-bread sodden in water, cureth the eluish & angry kibes … vpon the heels.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 412. The Crowne-scab [in horses] … is an eluish and painful disease.
1623. Cockeram, II. Froward, Eluish.
1678–96. Phillips, Elvish, froward.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
3. Comb., as elvish-marked.
1597. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 228. Thou eluish mark’d, abortiue rooting Hogge.
