View synonyms for kelpie

kelpie

[ kel-pee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(in Scottish legends) a water spirit, usually having the form of a horse, reputed to cause drownings or to warn those in danger of drowning.

kelpie

[ kel-pee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

kelpie

/ ˈkɛlpɪ /

an Australian breed of sheepdog, originally developed from Scottish collies, having a smooth coat of various colours and erect ears

kelpie

/ ˈkɛlpɪ /

(in Scottish folklore) a water spirit in the form of a horse that drowned its riders

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Origin of kelpie¹

First recorded in 1740–50; origin uncertain

Origin of kelpie²

First recorded in 1905–10

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Origin of kelpie¹

named after a particular specimen of the breed, c. 1870

Origin of kelpie²

C18: probably related to Scottish Gaelic cailpeach heifer, of obscure origin

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It is said; and you know of old that the Kelpie sings or plays a strange tune to wile seamen to their death.

A like fate nearly befell the writer when fishing alone one day in a gloomy, forsaken, kelpie-haunted Border hill loch.

For the first hour and a half of that memorable sail, the Kelpie ran lightly before a delicate breeze.

And now do I believe that they are still at play in the crystal halls of the water kelpie, whence no man can rescue them.

Had Ghaoth slain the kelpie, and was he now perishing there with his teeth fixed in the neck of the Sea-Woman?

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