Fuath
A class of malevolent spirits in Scottish and Irish folklore.
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In Scottish folklore, "fuath" denotes a broad category of supernatural beings associated with various bodies of water, including the ocean, streams, and freshwater lochs.[1] This category of creatures is also known by the name arrachd or fuath-arrachd.[2]
Quick Facts
- Classification
- Malevolent spirit
- Origin
- Scottish Highland and Irish folklore
- Alternative names
- arrachd, fuath-arrachd
- Associated habitat
- Sea, rivers, fresh water, sea lochs
- Subspecies
- peallaidh
- fideal
- beithir
- ùruisg
- shellycoat
- nuckelavee
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
These stories are set in locales within the Dempster family estate, otherwise known as Skibo.[3] Supposed "subspecies" of the fuath class include the beithir, fideal, pellaidh, and ùruisg.[4] J. F. Campbell described the fuath of Sutherland as a water spirit, whereas John Gregorson Campbell emphasized that the term more broadly refers to a spectre or goblin, not necessarily tied to water.[5] J. F. Campbell merged characteristics from multiple narratives into a single description of the Sutherland fuath, a method that Gregorson later faulted.[5]
J. F. Campbell attributed a mane and tail to the fuath, but these features actually emerged among the human descendants of the Munroe family, who were rumored to have a fuath ancestor.[6] Although the fuath of that area is often said to wear green, the weird woman seen diving into the River Shin was dressed in "golden and silken gear".[7] Charlotte Dempster gathered the tale "The Brollachan" and several related Sutherland variants in 1859, then passed them to J. F. Campbell, who published them.[3]
References
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mackenzie, "Scottish folk-lore and folk life; studies in race, culture and tradition", Blackie, 1935, p. 233; , Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "fuath", p. 182.; Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, p. 243, s. v. "fuath, fuathan, vough". (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, p. 243, s. v. "fuath, fuathan, vough". (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . "III.xii The Banshee, or Vaugh, or Weird Woman of the Water", p. 228.; Evans, "The Gentleman Usher: The Life & Times of George Dempster 1712-1818", Pen and Sword, 2004; Evans, "The Gentleman Usher: The Life & Times of George Dempster 1712-1818", Pen and Sword, 2004 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . "Highland subspecies of the fuath include the beithir, fideal, pellaidh, and ùruisg. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . He gives an amalgamated descriptions of the fuath, drawing from the main brollachan tale and variants 1.–5. He is also quoted in; ; "Fuath". (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . "XXXVII, var. 3". (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Fuath" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: . He gives an amalgamated descriptions of the fuath, drawing from the main brollachan tale and variants 1.–5. He is also quoted in; . "III.xiiia The Web-footed Kelpie", p. 228. The number "xiii" has been doubly assigned by error. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Fuath (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Irish folklore
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Fuath (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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