Erkenek (Erkecel, Erkecey, Ernek, İrkenek, İrkeyel) is a character of Turkish / Turkic folklore.
He has adventures that again involve swallowing (by a miller), being imprisoned in a mousetrap and finally dying from the poisonous breath of a spider.
In other story, a poor childless peasant couple wishes for a child "no matter how small" aloud.
Seven months later the wife has a small child "no longer than a thumb" which they call "Erkenek" and who becomes a "wise and nimble creature."
In Mongolian language Erhi or Erki[2] (Old Mongol: Erekey) and in Turkish Ernek (Old Turkic: Erŋek)[3] means Thumb.