Fairy, far'y, a general name for an imaginary wee being in human form. As gods and goddesses, nymphs and fauns appear in ancient mythologies, so among the medieval peoples fairies are the beings who preside at birth and control the destiny of man. The word is from the Latin, and is akin to fate. The English word fairy meant originally, "enchanted," while the elf or spirit was designated by "fay." At an early date, however, the mistake was made of calling a fay a fairy, and the word fairy has been long in usage in this sense. In many of the older tales of fairies there seems nothing in form, size, or appearance to distinguish them from human beings, but they possess supernatural knowledge and powers. In later stories, fairies are usually diminutive. A writer on the traditions of Ireland says that the fairies are only a few inches high; that they are "light and airy in form, so that one may dance on a dewdrop, which trembles, indeed, but never breaks." Specific terms for various types of fairies are in use. Thus the elf is usually mischievous; the sylph is a graceful, floating creature living in the air; the gnome is grotesque and homely, living underground. The German cobald lives in mines. The Arabian genie is a worker of the miraculous,--as the genie of Aladdin's lamp and the genie whom the fishermen let out of the bottle. The Irish banshee, a little wrinkled, aristocratic old lady, appeared under the windows of great houses and sang in mournful accents, warning the family of impending death. The Scottish brownies lurked about farm houses. If made welcome, and not begrudged bite and sup, they did many a piece of drudgery while master and servant slept. Puck, otherwise known as Robin Goodfellow and as Friar Rush, was their chief. He is described by Shakespeare in Midsummer Night's Dream. The erlking of the Germans and Scandinavians worked mischief to children or lured them away by night. All these are fairies. To fairies, good and evil, the peasantry of western Europe were wont to ascribe whatever was out of the ordinary or not readily understood. If money was found the fairies had dropped it with benevolent intent. If milk turned sour it was the work of fairies. The delicate gossamer webs seen of a dewy morn were the fairies' washing spread out to dry. As is well known, many kinds of mushrooms grow in circles, more and more remote from the center where the growth began. A circle of these umbrella-like toadstools springs up often-times over night. They were called fairy rings, within which the fairies were held to dance. Stone arrowheads were the weapons of the elves. Fairies were supposed to inhabit a distinct realm, called Fairyland. Oberon was the king. His name appears first in an old French tale. Mab was the queen, her name coming from the Welsh. The name Titania for the fairy queen was first used by Shakespeare in Midsummer Night's Dream. Perriwinkle, Perriwiggin, and Tom Thumb are courtiers. Hop, Mop, Skip, Pink, Tib, Wim, and similar names designate the maids of honor. Morgana or Morgan le Fay is a prominent fairy in the Arthurian legends. Spenser's Faerie Queene and Shakespeare's plays are examples of the use of fairies in literature. Shakespeare's plays are full of fairy people. See BROWNIE; CHANGELING. Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen We daren't go a-hunting, For fear of little men; Wee folk, good folk, Trooping all together; Green jacket, red cap, And white owl's feather. --Allingham. He put his acorn helmet on; It was plumed of the silk of the thistle-down; The corslet plate that guarded his breast Was once the wild bee's golden vest; His cloak, of a thousand mingled dyes, Was formed of the wings of butterflies; His shield was the shell of a lady-bug queen, Studs of gold on a ground of green; And the quivering lance which he brandished bright, Was the sting of a wasp he had slain in fight. Swift he bestrode his fire-fly steed; He bared his blade of the bent grass blue; He drove his spurs of the cockle-seed, And away like a glance of thought he flew. --Drake, The Culprit Fay.