On Faeries

According to Katherine Briggs in her book An Encyclopedia of Fairies, the term 'faery' (also 'fairy,' 'faerie,' 'fayre,' 'fairye,' 'faierie') comes from 'fay-erie,' a state of glamour or enchantment, and was later applied to the creatures able to use those powers of illusion. (Brian Froud and Alan Lee in their book Faeries also used the term to describe a geographical location, and we, too, use it as such.) 

'Elf' and 'faery' can be synonymous, although 'elf' can refer to a male faery. Faeries, at least in America, and at the present time, are widely thought of as small, winged, human-like females, but the term can refer to any denizen of Faery, with the possible exception of hags, monsters, and bogies. Even goblins, hobgoblins, and the like may be put in this category. Conversely, various names may be given to the same species of faery according to the region. For example, the Will O' the Wisp is also called Jacky Lantern, Spunkie, and Ellylldan. 

Faeries are also known as 'good neighbours' (called such to avoid their considerable wrath), 'fey (folk),' 'the honest folk,' 'the little folk,' 'the wee folk' (a term which implies harmlessness), 'the gentry,' 'the fair folk,' 'the hill folk,' 'the forgetful people,' 'the men of peace,' 'mother's blessing,' and 'good people.' Again, many of these names were used in order to keep from offending the fey, who would sometimes take deep umbrage at something which we (at least in the modern day) would consider a minor infraction. They did not always, for example, take to being called 'faeries' or 'elves.' An old Scottish rhyme goes something like this:

Gin ye call me fairy,
I'll wield yuir muckle tarry.
Gin ye call me elf,
I bid ye look weel to yerself.
Gin ye call me guid neighbour, 
Then guid neighbour I will be.
But gin ye call me Seelie wicht,
And I'll be yuir friend baith day and nicht!