Obs.; also 7 aulfe, auph, 8 dial. awf. [a. ON. álfr (cogn. w. OE. ælf) elf, fairy; but apparently not applied in Eng. to the elves themselves.] An elf’s child, a goblin child, a changeling left by the fairies; hence, a misbegotten, deformed, or idiot child, a half-wit, simpleton. The earlier and more etymological form of OAF.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. IV. i. (1651), 519. A very monster, an aufe imperfect.
1627. Drayton, Adgincourt, etc., 119. Say that the Fayrie left this Aulfe, And tooke away the other.
1659. Brome, Eng. Moor, III. ii. 43. The Arsivarsiest Aufe that ever crept into the world.
1678. Dryden, Kind Kpr., I. i. 11. You Auph you, do you not perceive?
c. 1750. Tim Bobbin, Eawther & Buk. What an awf wur I t’ pretend rime weh yo!
