General
selkie
What does selkie mean?
A creature of Scottish (especially Orkney and Shetland) folklore that lives as a seal in the sea but can shed its skin to become human.
"The auld tale tells o' a fisherman who wed a selkie."
Origin
Scots (Insular), from 'selch/selk' (seal) + diminutive '-ie'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'selkie'?
A selkie is a mythical creature from Scottish folklore that lives as a seal in the sea but can shed its skin to take human form on land.
Where do selkie legends come from?
They are especially strong in the folklore of Orkney and Shetland. The word is Scots, from 'selch/selk' (seal) plus the diminutive '-ie'.
How is 'selkie' spelled?
Common variants include 'silkie' and 'selchie', all referring to the same seal-folk of the tales.
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