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In German folklore, a drude (Drude, pl. Druden) is a kind of malevolent nocturnal elf creature (or Alp, kobold, or a hag (often a witch)) associated with nightmares, prevalent especially in Southern Germany. Druden were said to be one of the demons that participate in the Wild Hunt and were considered a particular class of demon in Alfonso de Spina's hierarchy of demons. The word also came to be used as a generic term for "witch" in the 16th century (Hans Sachs).

Etymology
The word is attested as Middle High German trute, in early modern and 19th century lexicography. Additional variations of the name include Trott, Trud, Krot, and Mahr. The name trott is also the German word to jog (German: trotten), and suggests a connection to a nightmare being caused by a drude trotting about on the victim as they slept. Other sources claim that a drude can cause nightmares by kicking or resting on the victim during their sleep. The name Krot also associates drude with toads (German: Kröte). The word drude is synonymous with elf and alp, leading to a strong connection to Norse folklore. Grimm suggests derivation from a euphemistic trût (modern traut) "dear, beloved; intimate", but cites as an alternative suggestion a relation to the valkyrie's name Þrúðr. If so the druden might be connected with the daughter of the chieftain of the gods in the Norse religion, Thor; who he had with his wife Sif.

Alternate Names
Drude could also be referred to as Drudenkopf, or "drude-head," stemming from the Bavarian belief that the creatures who created nightmares possessed the head of a drude. This is echoed in other regions of Germany, with Trottenkopf originating from the areas of Württemberg or Switzerland, which is also present in all Pennsylvania versions, and Trudenkopf from an area within Swabia.

Drude are often replaced with the word Mare or Mahrt, the name of a similar creature associated with causing nightmares and treading on their victims, both humans and livestock, when sleeping (see Beliefs section below).

Beliefs
Drude are primarily considered the cause of nightmares, making them by kicking, stepping, or resting on top of their victim's chest, but can also cause disease. Disease especially could be brought on their victims by riding them, particularly on their backs like a horse. Though drude mainly attack humans, they can attack livestock such as cattle and horses. Drude are seen as feminine, owing to their associations with witches especially later into history, but had first been seen as closer to that of the impish alp. They were also seen as being "shy" of the sun according to many songs that are supposed to keep them away. The drude's association with magic can also be traced to alps, a Scandinavian-German elf creature which drude are said to either be completely or are at least associated with. Alps are considered endowed with god-like deeds and abilities in Icelandic mythology. Icelandic dark elves (Svartálfar or Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar) were closely related to mischief, and are often referred to as dwarves. These dark elves have traits such as possessing "harmful magic," and like a drude, can cause disease and bring on the nightmare phenomenon, as well as go "hag-riding," which is often associated with succubi.

Witches
Drude are often associated with witches, stemming from changes in language in 16th century Germany (Hans Sachs). This is credited to the rise of Christianity grouping all magical things both pagan and Christian into the general label of "witchcraft." It is because of this that many things that had originally only been credited to the drude became associated with witches as well, helping foster the belief that drude possessed magic.

Variations and Applications
There are many more ways that the word drude is used in charm-like and magical items. The Drudenfuss (or Drudenfuß), literally "drude's foot" (also Alpfuss ), is the pentagram symbol (in early usage also either a pentagram or a hexagram), believed to ward off demons, which is explicitly named in Goethe's Faust (1808). The word has been in use since at least the 17th century, recorded by Justus Georg Schottelius (as drutenfusz, glossed omnis incolumitatis signum). Its apotropaic use is well recorded for 18th- to 19th-century folk belief in Bavaria and Tyrol. It was also believed that drudenfuss could ward off nightmares, as well as drude and witches. Alternative names for drudenfuss include Trot(t)enfuss and Krottenfuss from the areas of Swabia, though the latter is a more common form.

Drudenfuss is also the German name of the pentagram used as a heraldic device (alternatively Drudenkreuz "drude's cross" and Alpfuß,  Alfenfuß "elf-foot" or Alpkreuz "elf-cross") besides the more descriptive Pentalpha or Fünfstern.

A Drudenstein is a pebble with a naturally formed hole in the center. In Bavaria, such pebbles were hung in rooms, on cradles or in stables to ward off nightmares, or to protect horses against matted manes or tails.