The Fairies

Banshee
A death spirit who wails only for members of the old families. When several keen together it fortells the death of someone very great or holy. The banshee has long streaming hair and a grey cloak over a green dress. Her eyes are fiery red with continual weeping. In the Scottish Highlands the Banshee is called 'Little Washer by the Ford', and she washes the graveclothes of those about to die. top

Baobhan Sith
The word is the same as Banshee, and means 'Fairy Woman', but it is generally employed to mean a kind of Succubus, very dangerous and evil.. top

Barguest
A kind of bogey beast. It has horns, teeth, claws, and fiery eyes. top

Bauchan or Bocan
A hobgoblinish spirit, often tricksy, sometimes dangerous, and sometimes helpful. top

Bean-nighe
The washer. A form of Banshee. top

Beithir
A destructive demon haunting caves and corries. top

Bendith y Mamau (The Mother's Blessing)
The Glamorganshire name for the Fairies. They steal children, elf-ride horses and visit houses. Bowls of milk were put out for them. top

Black Dogs
Stories of Black Dogs are to be found all over the country. They are generally dangerous, but sometimes helpful. top

Blue Men of the Minch
The Blue Men use particularly to haunt the strait between Long Island and the Shiant Islands. They swam out to wreck passing ships, and could be baulked by captains who were ready at rhyming and could keep the last word. They were supposed to be fallen angels. top

Bodach
The Scottish form of the bugbear, or bug-a-boo. He comes down the chimney to fetch naughty children The Bodach Glas is a death token. top

Bodachan Sabhaill
The little old man of the Barn. A Barn Brownie, who takes pit on old men, and threshes for them. top

Boggart
A mischievous Brownie, almost exactly like a poltergeist in its habits. top

Bogey Beast
A mischievous hobgoblin. top

Bogles
Evil Goblins. top

Boobrie
A gigantic water-bird, which inhabits the lochs of the Argyllshire. It has a loud harsh voice and webbed feet, and gobbles up sheep and cattle. top

Booman
A Brownie-like hobgoblin. top

Brag
A mischievous hobgoblin, a shape-shifter, often in the form of a horse. top

Brollachan
Brollachan is the Gaelic for a shapeless thing. top

Browney
Guardian of the bees. top

Brownie
The best-known of the industrious hobgoblins. His country is from the Northern countries of Englands right up to the fringe of the Scottish Highlands. These hobgoblins would finish various chores about the house or farm in exchange for a bowl of milk every night. top

Bucca
There are Bucca-dhu, the black bucca, and Bucca-gwidden, the white bucca. top

Buckie
A mischievous Scottish fairy, probably invoked in the folk-rhyme, 'Buckie, Buckie, biddy bene!'. top

Bug-a-boo (Boggle-bo, bugbear, etc.)
Nursery goblins. top

Buggane
A particularly noxious bogle. top

Buggan
A form of Bogie. top

Bullbeggar
A rarely mentioned fairy. Little is known about it. top

Bwbachod
The Welsh Brownies. They were friendly and industrious, but they disliked dissenters and teetotallers. top

Bwca
The Welsh Boggart or Brownie. top

Bwganod
The Welsh bogies. top

Cait Shith
The Fairy Cat. A large black cat with one white spot on its breast which belongs to the fairies. top

Caoidheag (The Weeper)
A Highland Banshee. top

Caval Ushteg
Water Horse. top

Cearb (The Killing One)
A demon. top

Ceasg
Highland mermaid, half woman, half grilse. top

Church Grim
An inhabitant of the church, from which it does not stir except in very dark, stormy weather. It tolls the bell sometimes at midnight; and the clergyman, reading a funeral service, would sometimes see it at the Tower window, and could tell from its looks whether the buried man was saved or lost. top

Cipenapers
The Welsh version of the word 'kidnappers' applied to fairies. top

Clurican
Nearly allied to a leprechaun, though some tales tell of some very like abbey lubbers. top

Coblynau
Welsh mining fairies. They are ugly but friendly. About half a yard high and dressed like miners. They bring good luck to the mine. top

Colt-Pixy
Orchard guardian. top

Cowlug-sprites
Sprites with cows' ears that haunt the villages of Bowden and Gateside on Cowlug Night. top

Crodh Mara
These are hornless cattle belonging to the sea fairies, which are sometimes give to human favourites. top

Cu sith
This is a great dog, as large as a bullock with a dark green coat. top

Cughtach
Cave-haunting spirit. top

Cwn Annwn
The Welsh Hellhounds. top

Cyhyraeth
The crying spirit, who wails before disasters. top

Dando and his Dogs
The Wild Hunt. top

Danes
A Somerset name for the fairies. The Dane Hills in Leicestershire have probably the same origin. top

Daoine Sidhe (Deenee shee)
The fairy people. Supposed by some to be Fallen Angels and by some the dwindled remnant of the Tuatha De Danann, the ancient gods of Ireland. top

Derrick
A fairy that is painted as ill-natured in stories from Devon but more friendly in stories from Hampshire. top

Devil's Dandy Dogs
A pack of fire-breathing hounds led by the Devil who hunt over lonely moors by night. They will tear any man to pieces, but can be kept off by prayer. top

Dinny Mara
The sea man. top

Direach or Fachan
A dwarfish monster with one hand, one leg, one eye. An evil goblin. top

Dobie
A rather clownish and foolish Brownie. He was often invoked to guard treasure, but those who could get one preferred a Brownie as more astute. top

Duergar
The worst and most malicious of the Border goblins. top

Dunnie
A mischievous bogey-beast, who most frequently takes the from of a horse, and spills the rider in the mud. top

Dunters or Powries
Spirits which inhabit old deserted peel towers. They make a loud, constant noise like the beating of flax. If it gets louder it fortells disaster. top

Each Uisge (Water horse)
Like land horses to look at, but treacherous and dangerous. They would sometimes take the form of young men but could be detected by the weed in their hair. top

Elf
Originally the Anglo-Saxon name for fairies. Later applied in England to small fairy boys, retained in Scotland for some time for all fairies. top

Ellylldan
Welsh Will o' the Wisp. top

Ellyllon
Welsh Elves. Tiny creatures living on fairy butter and fairy food. Their Queen is Mab. top

Fairy
Late, though general, name for the whole race. Originally Fay, from Fatae, the Fates. Fa�rie was first used for enchantment. The name was considered unlucky to use. top

Fane
The Ayrshire word for fairy. top

Farisees
Suffolk name for fairies. top

Fear Sidhean (fear-sheen)
Fairy Men. top

Feeorin
Little known fairy. top

Fenoderee or Phynoderee
The Manx Brownies. top

Feriers or Ferishers
Suffolk name for Fairies. top

Ferries
Orcadian name for Fairies. Gentler, more friendly and beautiful than Trows. top

Ferrishyn
Probably the English word for fairies Gallicized. top

Fetch
A common name for a double or wraith. Seen at night it is a death portent. top

Fideal
A malignant water spirit, like a girl in appearance, who drags swimmers down and drowns them. top

Fir Bolgs
Primitive fairies, conquered by the Tuatha De Danann. top

Fir Darrig (Fear Dearg)
A red man, generally helpful to mortals caught in Fairyland. top

Fir Chlis
The Merry Dancers. Gaelic for Northern Lights. top

Formorians (Formors)
These giants were great stone thowers and often quarrled among themselves, but were not as often accused of a liking for human blood as the English Giants. top

Fridean
Supernatural beings that dwelt under rocks, to whom offerings of milk and bread used to be made. top

Fuath (Foo-a)
The name of a whole class of malignant fairies or demons, Shellycoat, the Urisk, Each Uisge and others. top

Gabriel Hounds or Ratchets
Like the Wisht Hounds, except that they hunt high in the air. To hear them is a presage of death. They are said to be the souls of unchristened children. top

Galley-Beggar
A headless ghost. top

Gally-Trot
A white dog the size of a bullock who pursues any who run from it. top

Ganconer or Cancanagh
The Love-Talker. A fairy who appears in lonely valleys with a pipe in his mouth and makes love to maidens, who pine and die for him. top

Gentry
The polite Irish name for the fairies, equivalent to the Highland 'People of Peace', for it is not lucky to call them fairies. top

Glaistig
A female fairy, often half-woman, half goat. Generally hostile and dangerous, but occasionally she plays a Brownie's part. Often supposed to be a water spirit and sometimes classed within the Fuaths. top

Glashtyn
Something between Lob-Lie-by-the-Fire and a Fuath. Some of the Fuath stories contain this type. top

Gnomes
The earth-spirits according to the Neo-Platonists, but also to be found in Folk tradition. For more details go here. top

Goblins
Mischievous or evil spirits, generally small and grosteque. top

Grig
A small fairy. 'Merry as a grig.' top

Greenies
Little know fairy. top

Grogan
The Ulster Brownie that is quite similliar to a Gruagach. top

Gruagach
A spirit with long fair hair, who would often come drenched to the door and beg for shelter. She was lucky about the house. Male Grugachs are rare. top

Gwyllion
The Hill Fairies of Wales. Generally forbiddings and malignant. They are close friends of the goats. Sometimes they visit houses and must be hospitably received. top

Gwragedd Annwn
The water maidens who live below the lakes. Beautiful and not dangerous like mermaids or nixies. They have often wedded mortals. top

Gwrach y Rhibyn
The Welsh Banshee. top

Henkies
Trooping Fairies who limped as they danced. Their hills are called 'henkie knowes'. top

Hinky-Punk
Will o' the Wisp. 'One leg and a light, and lead you into bogs.' top

Hob or Hobthrush
Friendly spirits attached to particular localities. top

Hobmen
General name for Brownie-like spirits. top

Hobyah
Malignant and dangerous goblins. top

Hogmen
Hillmen, or fairies. top

Hookeys
Said to be another name for fairies. top

Hoopers
Beneficent spirits who warned fishermen of storms. They often appeared shrouded in thick mist. top

Hyter Sprites
Good but stern sprites. The would return lost children from the Fens. top

Imps or Impets
Small devils, not properly fairies. top

Incubus
A spirit vaguely coupled with the Brownies, but more properly a devil who would lay with women. top

Kelpie
A malignant water spirit who generally took the form of a horse. This type appears in many tales. top

Killmoulis
The Mill spirit, deeply attached to the miller's family, but often very mischievous and tiresome. top

Klippes
Trooping fairies. top

Knockers
Mine spirits, said to be the ghosts of the Jews who worked in the Cornish mines. They are often helpful. top

Leanan-Sidhe
The life-giving fairy, who inspires poets and singers, as opposed to the Ban-Sidhe who fortells death. top

Leprechaun
The fairy shoemaker. One of the best-known of the Irish fairies. top

Llamhigyn y Dwr (The Water Leaper)
A demon who trouble fishermen, breaking their lines and dragging them into the water. It drags down sheep and eats them. It is rather like a gigantic toad, with wings and a tail instead of legs. top

Lhiannan Shee
The Fairy Sweetheart. top

Lil Fellas
The Crowd, the Mob, Themselves are all Manx euphmisms for the fairies. top

Lob-Lie-by-the-Fire
Called the Lubbar Fend by Milton, this hairy spirit with a long tail who labours about his farm in the early part of the night, and then rests by the fire. He exacts bowls of milk from those in the house much like the Brownies. top

Loireag
A water fairy connected with fulling and weaving. They are found of music and angry if any of the weavers sing out of tune. top

Lubberkin
An Elizabethan diminutive of Lob, used for a Puck-like spirit. top

Lunantishee
Tribes that guard the blackthorn bushes. top

Mermaid
The best-known of all the sea-fairies. Very variable in character, but on the whole hostile. They haunt streams and pools as well as the sea. top

Merman
Ther mermaid's husband is uglier and even fiercer than she is and generally haunts the sea, not rivers. Many Mermen tales are talked in Orkney and Shetland. top

Merrows
The Merrows are the Irish mer-people. Like the Roane they live on dry land under water, but they use red caps, not sealskins, to pass through the sea. The females are beautiful but the males hideous. They are not so ill-disposed as other mer-people. top

Merry Dancers (Na Fir Chlis)
Name for the Northern lights and another name for the fairies. top

Moddey Dhoo
The Black Dog. top

Mooringer Veggey
The Little People. top

Morgan
A lake spirit. top

Neagle, Noggle, Nuggle, Nyaggle
The Shetland Water Kelpie. top

Ouph
An Elizabethan variant of Elf. Now it is used as a literary term. top

Padfoot
A bogey-beast, often in the shape of a huge black dog, but sometimes white. It drags a clattering chain and has fiery eyes. Its name comes from the padding of its feet. top

Peallaidh (pyaw-le)
The Shaggy One. A Perthshire urisk, from which the name Aberfeldy is said to be taken. top

Pechs, Pechts, Picts
Scottish mound fairies, dwarfish and red-haired like the Somerset Pixies. top

Pellings
A half-fairy tribe living near Snowdon. Supposed to be children of Penelope, a fairy bride. top

People of Peace (Daoine Sidhe)
One of the highland names for the fairies. top

Perry Dancers
The Suffolk name for the Northern Lights. top

Pharisees, Frairies
Sussex, Suffolk, Hereford, Warwick, and Worcestershire name for the Fairies. top

Phooka, Pouka
The Irish Puck. Often takes animal form, more especially that of a horse. top

Phynoderee
See Fenoderee. top

Pinket
The Worcestershire name for a Will o' the Wisp. top

Pisgies
Cornish metathesis of the word 'pixies'. top

Pixies
Somerset, Devon and Cornish trooping fairies. top

Plant Annwn
The Tribe of underwater fairies, who came out to hunt and possessed great wealth of cattle. Their king was Arawn. top

Plant Rhys Dwfn
A race of fairies (perhaps half human) on whose land there grows a plant that makes it invisible. They came to market in Cardigan and raised the price of corn and goods. top

Plentyn-Newid
The Welsh changeling. top

Portunes
Medieval fairy term. top

Redcap, Redcomb
Bloodthirsty spirits which haunted old peel towers. top

Redshanks
Treasure-owning fairies of Dolbury Camp. Supposed by some to be the ghosts of the old Danes. They were said to smoke little pipes. top

Roane
Seals or Mer-people. They take off their skins on land, but need them for going through the water. They are the gentlest of the sea people. top

Seelie Court
The kindly fairy host. 'Seelie' is 'blessed'. The malignant fairies were sometimes called 'the unseelie Court'. top

Selkies
The Seal men of the Orkneys. top

Shefro
Gregarious fairy who wears foxglove flower as a cap. top

Sidhe
The general Celtic name for fairies. top

Silkies
Ladies wearing white or grey silk, something between ghosts and Brownies, who haunt certain Border homes. top

Skriker
Sometimes called Trash from the padding of its feet. A death portent, sometimes it wanders invisibly in the woods, giving fearful screams. Sometimes it will take the form of a Padfoot. top

Sleih Beggey
'Little Folk' top

Sluagh
The Host of the Dead. top

Spriggans
Some say that the Spriggans are ghosts of the Giants. They guard old cairns, cromlechs, and hidden treasure. They are grotesquely ugly, and can alter their size at will. Storms, the toppling of buildings and the loss of children are accredited to them. top

Sprites
A general name for fairies and other supernatural creatures. top

Spunkies
Scottish Will o' the Wisps. top

Spoorne
A spirit mentioned by Reginald Scot. top

Swarth
A wraith or double. top

Tangie
A water kelpie who gains his name from the seaweed that cavers him. He appears sometimes as a man, sometimes as a horse. top

Tankerabogus
A bogie who comes after children. top

Tarans
The spirits of unbaptized children. top

Tatterfoal
A goblin horse. top

Thrummy-cap
A spirit who haunted the cellars of the old houses; he wore a cap of weavers' thrums. top

Thrumpin
A kind of attendant demon, believed to haunt every man with the power of taking his life. top

Tiddy Ones
Name ofr the Fen fairies. The Tiddy Mun controls the floods. top

Trows
The Hill Fairies of Shetland and Orkney. They have most of the usual fairy characteristics and some others, such as that of being 'day-bound', which they seem to have caught from the Scandinavian Trolls. top

Tuatha De Danann
The People of the Goddess Danu. The old gods of Ireland. top

Tylwyth Teg
The Fairy Family. General name for the 'Seelie Court' of Wales. All the usual fairy characteristics. top

Urchins
A popular name for a hedgehog, used in the sixteenth century for a kind of pixy, and still used for small boys, but not for fairies except in literary uses. top

Urisk, Uruisg
A kind of rough Brownie, half human, half goat, very lucky to have about the house, who herded cattle and did farm-work. He haunted lonely pools, but would sometimes crave company and would follow terrified travellers all night. Urisks lived alone, but met at stated times. A corrie near Loch Katrine was said to be their favourite meeting place. top

Vough
A form of fuath. top

Waff
Wraith, fetch, or double. top

Water Wraith
A female water spirit, dressed in green, withered, meager, and scowling. top

Wee Folk
Scottish and Ulster euphemism for the fairies. top

Wight
A vague term for a supernatural spirit or fairy. 'The Seelie wicht' or 'the evil wicht'. top

Wisht Hounds, Yeth Hounds
The Spectral Pack which hunts for souls. top

Yarthkins
Earth Spirits. top

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