Elp, n. 1. A tricky, sly or subtle person; one who evades his responsibilities. 2. An ingenious ruse; sharp practice.
El´pine, a. Disappointing; plausibly apologetic.
The elp is a clever promiser, who doesn’t make good. You never can pin him down,—he always escapes you. He won’t do what he has promised, or pay his debts; but his explanations are always all-but-convincing.
The tradesman is an elp, who promises to deliver those provisions in time for dinner, and always has a good excuse. The ladies’ tailor is an elp—the suit is never done on time. (See Goig.)
At the employment agency, the elps abound. They are always “sure to come” on Thursday. Friday and Saturday pass by.
The elp never quite knows, but would never confess his ignorance. It is impossible to get him to say either “Yes” or “No.”
Most infamous among the elps is the philandering suitor, who is attentive to you for years and years, keeping serious men away, and yet who will not propose. (See Xenogore.)
He promised he would pay in June—
Then August—then September;
And then he sang the same old tune:
He promised for December.
His sister died—his wife fell ill—
His brother needed help;
And I believed his tales, until
I saw he was an elp.
Fid´gel-tick, n. Food that it is a bore to eat; anything requiring painstaking and ill-requited effort. 2. A taciturn person, one from whom it is hard to get information.