an Australian breed of sheepdog, originally developed from Scottish collies, having a smooth coat of various colours and erect ears
Word origin
named after a particular specimen of the breed, c. 1870
kelpie in British English2
(ˈkɛlpɪ)
noun
(in Scottish folklore) a water spirit in the form of a horse that drowns its riders
Word origin
C18: probably related to Scottish Gaelic cailpeach heifer, of obscure origin
kelpie in American English1
(ˈkɛlpi) or ˈkelpy (ˈkɛlpi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈkelpies
Celtic Mythology
a water spirit, supposed to take the form of a horse and drown people
Word origin
Scot < ? Gael calpa, colt
kelpie in American English2
(ˈkɛlpi)
noun
any of a breed of medium-sized sheepdog with erect ears, a pointed muzzle, and a thick coat of black, tan, red, etc.: first bred in Australia from the collie and wild dingo