kelpie

1 of 2

noun (1)

kel·​pie ˈkel-pē How to pronounce kelpie (audio)
: any of a breed of energetic working dogs developed in Australia from British sheepdogs

kelpie

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a water sprite of Scottish folklore that delights in or brings about the drowning of wayfarers

Examples of kelpie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In Scottish folklore, the kelpie is a shape-shifting creature that lives underwater and can easily devour humans. Catherine Garcia, theweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Rusty Rusty is a red kelpie who is tight with Bluey’s friend Indy and also loves to play army. Kara Nesvig, Parents, 11 Sep. 2024 Although many folklorists and historians believe this story belongs to the older tradition of kelpie and water horse legends, accounts of Loch Ness’s cryptid continued to pop up in history, with various sightings being reported over the centuries. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 Untangling Scotland’s Century-Old Fossil Fish Mystery When was the First Sighting of the Loch Ness Monster? Falkirk Scotland: The Kelpies are 30-meter-high (98 ft) horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits). Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 Even Paddy’s kelpie was a troublemaker. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2023 In various 1,500-year-old texts, sea serpents, water horses, and water kelpie were all observed in Scotland’s waterways. Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2022 Three times, the team gave the Australian kelpie the command to round up the flock of 46 sheep. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2012

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Kelpie, name of a dog of this breed

Noun (2)

perhaps from Scottish Gaelic cailpeach, colpach heifer, colt

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1903, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1747, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kelpie was in 1747

Dictionary Entries Near kelpie

Cite this Entry

“Kelpie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kelpie. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on kelpie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!