kelpie

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɛlpi/

noun

  • 1a water spirit of Scottish folklore, typically taking the form of a horse and reputed to delight in the drowning of travellers.
  • 2a sheepdog of an Australian breed with a smooth coat, originally bred from a Scottish collie.

Origin:

late 17th century: perhaps from Scottish Gaelic cailpeach, colpach 'bullock, colt'. kelpie (sense 2) apparently comes from the name of a particular bitch, King's Kelpie (circa1879)