- mythical bird
- mythical beast
- an insect of unknown species (used whimsically)
- ~ fange, to go on a snipe hunt
Commentary:- The word is a term used for playing a practical joke on an innocent or simple person who was persuaded to hold a bag at some lonesome spot to catch this supposed animal, and who was then deserted by the rest of the party while they pretended to be beating up the animal in the bushes and driving it towards the bag; in a less literal sense, to be woolgathering.
Etymology: dG elpedritsch, ölpedrütsch=simple person. The Elbe– may be G Elfen.
