selkie

[ sil-kee ]

noun

, Scot.

1. a mythical creature that looks like a seal in water but assumes human form on land.

selkie

/ ˈsɛlkɪ /

noun

1. a variant of silkie

Word History and Origins

Origin of selkie¹

First recorded in 1685–95; Scots dialect (Orkney and Shetland Islands) variant of seal ²( def )

Example Sentences

In Shetland it is the “haff-fish,” or selkie, a fallen spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

Within the last ten years a man pulled down and rebuilt his byre because of some 'ongoings with a selkie flipper.'

From Project Gutenberg