kelpie (redirected from kelpies)

kel·pie ¹ also kel·py  (klp)

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  (klp)

n.

Any of a breed of sheepdog originating in Australia.

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

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kelpie¹, kelpy [ˈkɛlpɪ]

n pl -pies

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / 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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kelpie²

n

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

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

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