A pixie is a tiny, magical creature from folklore, especially stories from England and Ireland. Pixies are usually imagined as mischievous sprites who live in forests and meadows, playing tricks on travelers or leading them astray with fairy lights. In traditional tales, they might steal horses at night and return them in the morning with tangled manes, or hide household objects just to watch people search for them.

The word also describes a short, choppy hairstyle where the hair is cut close to the head and often styled in playful, uneven layers. Someone with a pixie cut might have wispy bangs and hair that barely reaches their ears. The hairstyle got its name because it looks elfin and spritely, like something a magical creature might have.

When you call someone pixie-like or pixieish, you mean they seem playful, energetic, and a bit impish, with delicate features and a lively personality. The actress Audrey Hepburn made the pixie cut famous in the 1950s, and her elegant but spirited style captured what the word suggests: someone small in stature but full of charm and life.