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sylph

Syllabification: (sylph)

Pronunciation: /silf/

Translate sylph | into Italian

Definition of sylph

noun

1an imaginary spirit of the air.
a slender woman or girl.

2a mainly dark green and blue hummingbird, the male of which has a long forked tail.
- Genus Aglaiocercus (and Neolesbia), family Trochilidae: three species

Origin:

mid 17th century: from modern Latin sylphes, sylphi and the German plural Sylphen, perhaps based on Latin sylvestris 'of the woods' + nympha 'nymph'