Vocabulary Mondays: kelpie

Word:  kelpie

Part of Speech:  noun

Meaning:  (in Scottish legends) a water spirit, usually having the form of a horse, reputed to cause drownings or to warn those in danger of drowning.

Word Origin and History:  

1747, Scottish, of unknown origin, perhaps related to Gael. colpach “heifer, steer, colt;” colpa “cow,horse.” The Lowland name of a demon in the shape of a horse that was reputed to haunt lakes and riversand to delight in causing drownings. But unlike its equivalents in Dan. (nøkken) and Icel.  –Dictionary.com