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kelpie

1 American  
[kel-pee] / ˈkɛl pi /

noun

  1. (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 2 American  
[kel-pee] / ˈkɛl pi /

noun

  1. Australian kelpie.

kelpie 1 British  
/ ˈkɛlpɪ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
kelpie 2 British  
/ ˈkɛlpɪ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of kelpie1

First recorded in 1740–50; origin uncertain

Origin of kelpie2

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His kelpie dropped a ball at my feet, tail wagging, and I threw it without thinking.

From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2022

Thanks to farmer James for showing Jodie and me some five week old kelpie pups at the Sydney Royal @eastershow this morning.

From Washington Post • Apr. 10, 2022

Neither was his dog, a kelpie named Kellie.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2018

Red Dog Australia, Rest of the world 88 mins Kriv Stenders Josh Lucas, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Noah Taylor, Rachael Taylor Koko, a red cloud kelpie, has been the surprise breakout talent of 2011 in Australia.

From The Guardian • Feb. 9, 2012

Meanwhile the world’s largest kelpie continues to evade capture in Loch Ness and appears to have developed a positive thirst for publicity.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.