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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Elrich(e, Elrage, a. Also: elrych, -ritche, -rische, -rish, -resche; alrich(e, -risch(e, -rish(e, -reche, -rege; elraige, -rege. [Possibly repr. OE. *ælf- or *elfríce ‘fairy kingdom’, used attributively. In later dial. as eldritch.]

1. Belonging to, or resembling, the elves or similar beings.(a) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 173.
I agane maist like ane elriche grume Crap in the muskane aikin stok c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 125.
Thare was Pluto, the elrich incubus, In cloke of grene 1513 Doug. iii. x. 42.
Tha elrych bredyr [the Cyclopes], with thar lukis thrawyn 1535 Stewart 51348.
Thinkand it war sum elrische man or elfe So quietlie away the pleuch geir staw a1605 Montg. Flyt. 281 (H).
The king of pharie, … With mony elrich incubus, was rydand that nycht c1590 J. Stewart 139/23.
Proud Pluto als that elresche man Comperit vith the pastor Pan(b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1536 (B).
I pray the alreche [Ch. alrich] quene of fary To be ȝour protectioun a1605 Montg. Flyt. 275 (T).
The king of pharie, … With mony alrege incubus 1603 Philotus cxxii.
I conjure thé … Be alrisch king and quene of farie Ib. cxxiv.
Like owle nor alrische elfe(c) (Montg.) 1585 James VI Ess. 68.
The king of fary … With many elrage incubus Id. Lusus R. 7.
Suche elraige peopil in suche a sort … gydit by a man, uas neuer found

2. Connected with, proceeding from, suggestive of, elves or supernatural beings; weird, strange, uncanny.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. v. 8.
Ȝit scho wanderit, and ȝeid by to ane elriche well 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 118.
All is bot gaistis, and elrich fastasyis, Of browneis and of bogillis ful this buke Ib. vii. 1513 Prol. 108.
Vgsum to heir was hir wild elrich screke 1535 Stewart 39711.
[Macbeth and Banquho] Thrie wemen met, that wyslie war besene In thair cleithing quhilk wes of elritche hew 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 58.
I hard ane pundler blaw ane elrich horne c1590 J. Stewart 210 § 40.
I arryuit in ane sinteir small, Quhair elresche esks vas creulland to & fro a1605 Montg. Misc. P. viii. 29.
Thy elrish skirlis do penetrat the roks(b) 1600-1610 Melvill 438.
When it [the eclipse] cam to the amazfull, ugly, alriche darknes, I was cast on my knies 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xii. 17.
Wandring in a vagarant estate About graues and alrish deserts Ib. xvii. 30.
The alrishe innes of bogles and gaists(c) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 217.
Mony haly and relligious men … fled in desertis and elraige [M. elragis] placis Ib. II. 259.
Makbeth and Banquho … met be the gait thre wemen, clothit in elrage [M. elrege] and uncouth weid Id. Livy I. 166/28.
The hare of his hede made his face elrage & wylde