The Black Dwarf
Preserved but no longer current.
A gnome of the most malignant character, once held by the dales- men of the border as the author of all the mischief that befell their flocks and herds. Scott has a novel so called (1816), in which the name is given to Sir Edward Mauley, alias Elshander, the recluse, Cannie Elshie, and the Wise Wight of Mucklestane Moor.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Black Dwarf” mean?
A gnome of the most malignant character, once held by the dales- men of the border as the author of all the mischief that befell their flocks and herds. Scott has a novel so called (1816), in which the name is given to Sir Edward Mauley, alias Elshander, the recluse, Cannie Elshie, and the Wise Wight of Mucklestane Moor.
Is “The Black Dwarf” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.