kelpie

kel·pie ¹

also kel·py  (kĕl′pē)

n. pl. kel·pies

A malevolent water spirit of Scottish legend, usually having the shape of a horse and rejoicing in or causing drownings.

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[Probably of Celtic origin; akin to Scottish Gaelic colpach, heifer.]

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kel·pie ²

 (kĕl′pē)

n.

A sheepdog of a medium-sized breed developed in Australia, having a compact body, usually erect ears, and short coat. Also called Australian kelpie.

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[From Kelpie, the name of an early specimen of the breed.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kelpie

(ˈkɛlpɪ) or

kelpy

n, pl -pies

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

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

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kelpie

(ˈkɛlpɪ)

n

(European Myth & Legend) (in Scottish folklore) a water spirit in the form of a horse that drowns its riders

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

kel•pie¹

or kel•py

(ˈkɛl pi)

n., pl. -pies.

a water spirit of Scottish folklore reputed to cause drownings.

[1740–50; orig. uncertain]

kel•pie²

(ˈkɛl pi)

n.

any of an Australian breed of medium-sized sheepherding dogs with a short, harsh, straight coat and erect ears.

[1905–10; alleged to be the name of an early example of the breed]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	kelpie - (Scottish folklore) water spirit in the form of a horse that likes to drown its riders kelpy folklore - the unwritten lore (stories and proverbs and riddles and songs) of a culture Scotland - one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts evil spirit - a spirit tending to cause harm
	2.	kelpie - an Australian sheepdog with pointed ears sheep dog, sheepdog, shepherd dog - any of various usually long-haired breeds of dog reared to herd and guard sheep

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