An imaginary spirit of the waters, horselike in form, vulgarly believed to warn, by preternatural noises and lights, those who are to be drowned. Jamieson. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

kelpie, n. Sc.
1 a water-spirit, usu. in the form of a horse, reputed to delight in the drowning of travellers etc.
2 an Australian sheepdog orig. bred from a Scottish collie.

Etymology

18th c.: orig. unkn.

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THESAURUS

kelpie

Davy, Davy Jones, Neptune, Nereid, Oceanid, Oceanus, Poseidon, Thetis, Triton, fresh-water nymph, limniad, man fish, mermaid, merman, naiad, nix, nixie, ocean nymph, sea nymph, sea-maid, sea-maiden, siren, undine, water god, water spirit, water sprite

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ROGET THESAURUS

kelpie

Jupiter

N Jupiter, god, goddess, heathen gods and goddesses, deva, Jupiter, Jove, pantheon, Allah, Bathala, Brahm, Brahma, Brahma, cloud-compeller, Devi, Durga, Kali, oread, the Great Spirit, Ushas, water nymph, wood nymph, Yama, Varuna, Zeus, Vishnu, Siva, Shiva, Krishna, Juggernath, Buddha, Isis, Osiris, Ra, Belus, Bel, Baal, Asteroth, Thor, Odin, Mumbo Jumbo, good genius, tutelary genius, demiurge, familiar, sibyl, fairy, fay, sylph, sylphid, Ariel, peri, nymph, nereid, dryad, seamaid, banshee, benshie, Ormuzd, Oberon, Mab, hamadryad, naiad, mermaid, kelpie, Ondine, nixie, sprite, denizens of the air, pixy, mythology, heathen-mythology, fairy-mythology, Lempriere, folklore, god-like, fairy-like, sylph-like, sylphic, you moonshine revelers and shades of night.

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