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• Types of Fae from G–L •
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Note: The following definitions are solely based off lore and various cultural mythologies from around the world. Also, do understand that these definitions and annotations are not of my own even if I may agree with the majority of them.
THESE ARE GENERALIZED DEFINITIONS, AND MANY ARE STEREOTYPICAL!!!
[Sources]: Faeriefae; full citations at the bottom of the page.
THESE ARE GENERALIZED DEFINITIONS, AND MANY ARE STEREOTYPICAL!!!
[Sources]: Faeriefae; full citations at the bottom of the page.
G
Gean-canach - Ireland. "Love-Talker"; a solitary faery who personifies love and idleness. He appears with a dudeen (pipe) in his mouth. It is very unlucky to meet him. A debonair little man who appeared in lonely glens smoking his clay pipe or dudeen. He had no shadow, the birds stopped singing and a mist unfurled about him. Would seduce young mortal maidens with his twinkling black eyes and enchanting gentle voice. Only if they kissed him they were doomed, for he would disappear as quickly as he had come, leaving them to pine to death.
The Gentry - An Irish name for faeries. The most noble tribe of all the fairies in Ireland. A big race who came from the planets and usually appear white. The Irish used to bless the Gentry for fear of harm otherwise.The class of aliens referred to as the "Nordics" may be the Gentry. They often appear in dreams as seven foot tall glowing beings, known as "the Shining Ones."
Ghillie Dhu - He is a solitary Scottish faerie who can be found amongst birch thickets. He is clothed with leaves and moss.
The Glaistig - She is a water faerie, a beautiful seductress with the body of a goat which she hides under a long billowy green dress. She lures men to dance with her, then feeds like a vampire on their blood. She can be benign as well, often tending children and the elderly or herding cattle for farmers.
Gnomes - Earth Elementals. They live underground and guard the treasures of the Earth. Gnomes are wonderful metal workers, especially of swords and armor. The guardian of mines, quarries, etc.
Goblins - They are somewhat malicious little creatures. They can appear as animals. They are thieves and villains and count the dead among their companions. They like to tempt people with faerie fruits. They're not truly completely evil, however. Mine goblins make knocking noises where they know there are rich deposits of ore. To avoid the Knockers' wrath, a pastie (traditional miner meal) should be left for them. Goblins/Hobgoblins: Originally a general name for small grotesque but friendly brownie-type creatures.
The Good Folk - A general name for faeries.
Good Neighbors - One of the most common Scottish and Irish names for the faeries.
Good People - The Irish often referred to the sidhe in this manner. See Daoine Maithe.
Green Children, the - The faery are recorded in the medieval chronicles in under such a name.
Greencoaties - The name for the faeries that dwell in Lincolnshire Fen country.
Greenies - The euphemistic name used for the fairies in Lancashire; associated with the Jacobean Faeries.
The Green Lady of Caerphilly - She haunts ruined castles, and often appears as ivy.
Grey Neighbors, the - One of the euphemistic names for the fairies given by the Shetlanders to the Trows, the small grey clad goblins whom the Shetlanders used to propitiate and fear, using against them many of the means used all over the islands as protection against fairies.
Guillyn Veggey - The Little Boys is a Manx term for the fairies that dwell on the Isle of Man.
Gwartheg Y Llyn (gwarrthey er thlin) - A. Wales. Faery cattle.
Gwragedd Annwn - pronounced "Gwrageth anoon"; They are beautiful Welsh water faerie maidens who sometimes marry humans. Lake faeries; harmless Water sprites.
Gwyllion (gwithleeon) - The evil mountain faeries of Wales. They are hideous female spirits who waylay and mislead travelers by night on the mountain roads. They were friends and patrons of the goats, and might indeed take goat form.
Gyre-Carlin - queen of the faeries in Fyfe area of Scotland.
Gean-canach - Ireland. "Love-Talker"; a solitary faery who personifies love and idleness. He appears with a dudeen (pipe) in his mouth. It is very unlucky to meet him. A debonair little man who appeared in lonely glens smoking his clay pipe or dudeen. He had no shadow, the birds stopped singing and a mist unfurled about him. Would seduce young mortal maidens with his twinkling black eyes and enchanting gentle voice. Only if they kissed him they were doomed, for he would disappear as quickly as he had come, leaving them to pine to death.
The Gentry - An Irish name for faeries. The most noble tribe of all the fairies in Ireland. A big race who came from the planets and usually appear white. The Irish used to bless the Gentry for fear of harm otherwise.The class of aliens referred to as the "Nordics" may be the Gentry. They often appear in dreams as seven foot tall glowing beings, known as "the Shining Ones."
Ghillie Dhu - He is a solitary Scottish faerie who can be found amongst birch thickets. He is clothed with leaves and moss.
The Glaistig - She is a water faerie, a beautiful seductress with the body of a goat which she hides under a long billowy green dress. She lures men to dance with her, then feeds like a vampire on their blood. She can be benign as well, often tending children and the elderly or herding cattle for farmers.
Gnomes - Earth Elementals. They live underground and guard the treasures of the Earth. Gnomes are wonderful metal workers, especially of swords and armor. The guardian of mines, quarries, etc.
Goblins - They are somewhat malicious little creatures. They can appear as animals. They are thieves and villains and count the dead among their companions. They like to tempt people with faerie fruits. They're not truly completely evil, however. Mine goblins make knocking noises where they know there are rich deposits of ore. To avoid the Knockers' wrath, a pastie (traditional miner meal) should be left for them. Goblins/Hobgoblins: Originally a general name for small grotesque but friendly brownie-type creatures.
The Good Folk - A general name for faeries.
Good Neighbors - One of the most common Scottish and Irish names for the faeries.
Good People - The Irish often referred to the sidhe in this manner. See Daoine Maithe.
Green Children, the - The faery are recorded in the medieval chronicles in under such a name.
Greencoaties - The name for the faeries that dwell in Lincolnshire Fen country.
Greenies - The euphemistic name used for the fairies in Lancashire; associated with the Jacobean Faeries.
The Green Lady of Caerphilly - She haunts ruined castles, and often appears as ivy.
Grey Neighbors, the - One of the euphemistic names for the fairies given by the Shetlanders to the Trows, the small grey clad goblins whom the Shetlanders used to propitiate and fear, using against them many of the means used all over the islands as protection against fairies.
Guillyn Veggey - The Little Boys is a Manx term for the fairies that dwell on the Isle of Man.
Gwartheg Y Llyn (gwarrthey er thlin) - A. Wales. Faery cattle.
Gwragedd Annwn - pronounced "Gwrageth anoon"; They are beautiful Welsh water faerie maidens who sometimes marry humans. Lake faeries; harmless Water sprites.
Gwyllion (gwithleeon) - The evil mountain faeries of Wales. They are hideous female spirits who waylay and mislead travelers by night on the mountain roads. They were friends and patrons of the goats, and might indeed take goat form.
Gyre-Carlin - queen of the faeries in Fyfe area of Scotland.
H
Habonde - Faery in English folklore who was said to be the consort of Hobany. Described as a beautiful young woman with dark plaited hair, wearing on her head a golden circlet on which there is a star. This signifies that she is queen of the faeries, possibly the French faeries.
Habundia - queen of the White Ladies.
Habonde - Faery in English folklore who was said to be the consort of Hobany. Described as a beautiful young woman with dark plaited hair, wearing on her head a golden circlet on which there is a star. This signifies that she is queen of the fairies, possibly the French faeries.
Hag - The hag is a faery from the British Isles. She is said to be the traces of the most ancient goddesses. The hag is regarded as the personification of winter. In the winter months she is usually old and very ugly looking. As the season changes though she becomes more and more beautiful, and younger. Tangles in the manes of horses and ponies are called hag-knots, supposed to be used witches as stirrups. They are the personification of winter in the British Isles, anare thought to be the remnants of the most ancient godesses. Some hags turn from hideously ugly (their usual state) to breathtakingly beautiful at the turn of winter to spring.
Hamadryad - a wood-nymph. Each tree has its own wood-nymph, who dies when the tree dies.
Hobgoblin - They have a bad reputation since the Puritans used their name to refer to wicked Goblin spirits, but they're really a sort of friendly Brownie. They are helpful at times, but like practical jokes. But don't annoy them or they can become nasty.
Hounds of the Hill, Cwn Annwn (coon anoon), Herla's Hounds - Wales and many other Celtic areas. The phantom hunting dogs of Arawn, the Lord of the Underworld. Very large; white with red ears.
Howlaa - A faery sprite who wails along the sea shore before storms.
Hyter Sprites - They are faeries from East Anglia. They are able to appear as sand martins (a type of bird).
Habonde - Faery in English folklore who was said to be the consort of Hobany. Described as a beautiful young woman with dark plaited hair, wearing on her head a golden circlet on which there is a star. This signifies that she is queen of the faeries, possibly the French faeries.
Habundia - queen of the White Ladies.
Habonde - Faery in English folklore who was said to be the consort of Hobany. Described as a beautiful young woman with dark plaited hair, wearing on her head a golden circlet on which there is a star. This signifies that she is queen of the fairies, possibly the French faeries.
Hag - The hag is a faery from the British Isles. She is said to be the traces of the most ancient goddesses. The hag is regarded as the personification of winter. In the winter months she is usually old and very ugly looking. As the season changes though she becomes more and more beautiful, and younger. Tangles in the manes of horses and ponies are called hag-knots, supposed to be used witches as stirrups. They are the personification of winter in the British Isles, anare thought to be the remnants of the most ancient godesses. Some hags turn from hideously ugly (their usual state) to breathtakingly beautiful at the turn of winter to spring.
Hamadryad - a wood-nymph. Each tree has its own wood-nymph, who dies when the tree dies.
Hobgoblin - They have a bad reputation since the Puritans used their name to refer to wicked Goblin spirits, but they're really a sort of friendly Brownie. They are helpful at times, but like practical jokes. But don't annoy them or they can become nasty.
Hounds of the Hill, Cwn Annwn (coon anoon), Herla's Hounds - Wales and many other Celtic areas. The phantom hunting dogs of Arawn, the Lord of the Underworld. Very large; white with red ears.
Howlaa - A faery sprite who wails along the sea shore before storms.
Hyter Sprites - They are faeries from East Anglia. They are able to appear as sand martins (a type of bird).
J
Jack-In-Irons - He is a giant from Yorkshire who haunts lonely roads.
Jenny Greenteeth - She is the Yorkshire River version of Peg Powler.
Jimmy Squarefoot - His appearance is said to be frightening, but he is actually harmless.
Jinnee (s) or Jinn (p) - faeries in Arabian mythology, the offspring of fire. They reproduce like human beings, and are lead by a race of kings named Suleyman, one of whom “built the pyramids.” Their chief abode is the mountain Kâf, and they appear to men under the forms of serpents, dogs, cats, monsters, or even human beings, and become invisible at pleasure. The evil jinn are hideously ugly, but the good are exquisitely beautiful. According to fable, they were created from fire two thousand years before Adam was made of earth.
Jack-In-Irons - He is a giant from Yorkshire who haunts lonely roads.
Jenny Greenteeth - She is the Yorkshire River version of Peg Powler.
Jimmy Squarefoot - His appearance is said to be frightening, but he is actually harmless.
Jinnee (s) or Jinn (p) - faeries in Arabian mythology, the offspring of fire. They reproduce like human beings, and are lead by a race of kings named Suleyman, one of whom “built the pyramids.” Their chief abode is the mountain Kâf, and they appear to men under the forms of serpents, dogs, cats, monsters, or even human beings, and become invisible at pleasure. The evil jinn are hideously ugly, but the good are exquisitely beautiful. According to fable, they were created from fire two thousand years before Adam was made of earth.
K
Kapre - Filipino tree nymphs or dryads or ‘a tree-residing giants’.
Kelpie - They are Scottish water faeries. Usually they are seen as young horses, but sometimes they appear as hairy men. They haunt rivers and streams, letting men mount them and then riding off into the water, dunking them. (See also Each-Uisge.) A supernatural Water elemental which takes the form of a horse, malevolent.
Kepler’s Fairy - the fairy which guides the planets. Kepler said that each planet was guided in its elliptical orbit by a resident angel.
The Killmoulis - He is an ugly Brownie who haunts mills. He has an enormous nose and a missing mouth. He eats by stuffing the food into his nostrils. He works for the miller but he plays pranks so often he is often more of a nuisance than a help.
Knockers, Knackers - Cornwall. Mine spirits who are friendly to miners. The knock where rich ore can be found. Also called Buccas.
Kobold - according to German folklore, kobolds are spirits who dwell in mines and who like to torment humans. They are tricksters and not inherently evil. In the 16th and the 17th century, they were usually depicted on paintings as little devils with a conical hat, pointy shoes, a hairy tail, and bald feet instead of hands. They are considered to be the most dangerous and most ugly of all the fairy-like beings. Some sources suggest that kobolds are related to the Brownies.
Kapre - Filipino tree nymphs or dryads or ‘a tree-residing giants’.
Kelpie - They are Scottish water faeries. Usually they are seen as young horses, but sometimes they appear as hairy men. They haunt rivers and streams, letting men mount them and then riding off into the water, dunking them. (See also Each-Uisge.) A supernatural Water elemental which takes the form of a horse, malevolent.
Kepler’s Fairy - the fairy which guides the planets. Kepler said that each planet was guided in its elliptical orbit by a resident angel.
The Killmoulis - He is an ugly Brownie who haunts mills. He has an enormous nose and a missing mouth. He eats by stuffing the food into his nostrils. He works for the miller but he plays pranks so often he is often more of a nuisance than a help.
Knockers, Knackers - Cornwall. Mine spirits who are friendly to miners. The knock where rich ore can be found. Also called Buccas.
Kobold - according to German folklore, kobolds are spirits who dwell in mines and who like to torment humans. They are tricksters and not inherently evil. In the 16th and the 17th century, they were usually depicted on paintings as little devils with a conical hat, pointy shoes, a hairy tail, and bald feet instead of hands. They are considered to be the most dangerous and most ugly of all the fairy-like beings. Some sources suggest that kobolds are related to the Brownies.
L
The Lady of the Lake - She is a faery whose palace is hidden by the illusion of a lake.
Laminak - Basque faeries, related to the Celtic little people. The Laminak live underground in beautiful castles.
Lamiñas - Lamiñas are evil faeries of the País Vasco. They live in the woods and in the shores of streams and rivers. They usually appear as women (they can also appear as men, but that is rare). The only means to distinguish them from normal people is to see that part of their body which is fish or bird. Of course, usually it is easy because it is fifty-fifty, but the animal detail can sometimes be as small as a goat leg or a chicken foot.
Leanhaun Shee-Sidhe - Ireland. "Faery Mistress", in return for inspiration she feeds off the life force of the individual until he -she wastes away and dies. Gaelic poets tend to die young if they strike a bargain with this faery.
Leprechaun - Very small sprites who sometimes live in farmhouses or wine cellars. They are known to aid humans and perform small labors for them. Sometimes they ask humans for supplies and furniture, for which in return they give objects which bring luck and fortune. Leprechauns are called fairy cobblers, for they make shoes for elves (Irish leith-bhrogan, from leith-brog, one-shoe maker, so called because he is always seen working at a single shoe). They are seen quite often by humans and are described as merry little fellows gaily dressed in old-fashioned clothes; green, with a red cap, leather apron, and buckled shoes. When they finish their daily tasks, leprechauns like to organize wild feast, during which time they are referred to as cluricauns. These (often drunk) cluricauns can then be seen riding in moonlight on the back of a dog or a sheep. According to popular belief, a leprechaun possesses a treasure (usually a pot of gold) which a human may obtain if he succeeds in capturing one, which is extremely difficult. Even after capture, a person may not take his eyes off of him for an instant, for then he will vanish. Leprechauns are mainly found in Irish folklore.
The Little People of the Passamaquoddy Indians - There are two kinds: the Nagumwasuck and the Mekumwasuck. They're both two to three feet tall and ugly. The Passamaquody Indians live close to teh Canadian border, by the way. The Nagumwasuck are closely involved with their humans, often singing sadly when there is a death in the tribe, and they dance at weddings. They are self-conscious of their ugliness, and it is near fatal to laugh at them. The Mekumwasuck live in the woods and dress outlandishly. Their faces are covered with hair. They are the guardians of the Catholic Church. If a Mekumwasuck looks directly at you, you either die or acquire a contagious disease of some sort.
Lliannan-She - In the Isle of Man, a spirit friend, a female faery who waited to encounter men. If one spoke to her she followed him always, but remained invisible to everyone else.
Lorelei - in German legend a fairy similar to the Greek Sirens who lived on the rock high on the bank of the Rhine River and by her singing lured the sailors to their death.
Lunantishee - The Lunantishee, or Lunantishess, are a tribe of faeries who guard blackthorn bushes (one of the Fairy Trees). They will not allow that a blackthorn stick is cut on May 11th (originally May Day) or November 11 (originally All Hallows Eve). Should on person manage to cut a stick, some misfortune will surely befall him or her.
The Lady of the Lake - She is a faery whose palace is hidden by the illusion of a lake.
Laminak - Basque faeries, related to the Celtic little people. The Laminak live underground in beautiful castles.
Lamiñas - Lamiñas are evil faeries of the País Vasco. They live in the woods and in the shores of streams and rivers. They usually appear as women (they can also appear as men, but that is rare). The only means to distinguish them from normal people is to see that part of their body which is fish or bird. Of course, usually it is easy because it is fifty-fifty, but the animal detail can sometimes be as small as a goat leg or a chicken foot.
Leanhaun Shee-Sidhe - Ireland. "Faery Mistress", in return for inspiration she feeds off the life force of the individual until he -she wastes away and dies. Gaelic poets tend to die young if they strike a bargain with this faery.
Leprechaun - Very small sprites who sometimes live in farmhouses or wine cellars. They are known to aid humans and perform small labors for them. Sometimes they ask humans for supplies and furniture, for which in return they give objects which bring luck and fortune. Leprechauns are called fairy cobblers, for they make shoes for elves (Irish leith-bhrogan, from leith-brog, one-shoe maker, so called because he is always seen working at a single shoe). They are seen quite often by humans and are described as merry little fellows gaily dressed in old-fashioned clothes; green, with a red cap, leather apron, and buckled shoes. When they finish their daily tasks, leprechauns like to organize wild feast, during which time they are referred to as cluricauns. These (often drunk) cluricauns can then be seen riding in moonlight on the back of a dog or a sheep. According to popular belief, a leprechaun possesses a treasure (usually a pot of gold) which a human may obtain if he succeeds in capturing one, which is extremely difficult. Even after capture, a person may not take his eyes off of him for an instant, for then he will vanish. Leprechauns are mainly found in Irish folklore.
The Little People of the Passamaquoddy Indians - There are two kinds: the Nagumwasuck and the Mekumwasuck. They're both two to three feet tall and ugly. The Passamaquody Indians live close to teh Canadian border, by the way. The Nagumwasuck are closely involved with their humans, often singing sadly when there is a death in the tribe, and they dance at weddings. They are self-conscious of their ugliness, and it is near fatal to laugh at them. The Mekumwasuck live in the woods and dress outlandishly. Their faces are covered with hair. They are the guardians of the Catholic Church. If a Mekumwasuck looks directly at you, you either die or acquire a contagious disease of some sort.
Lliannan-She - In the Isle of Man, a spirit friend, a female faery who waited to encounter men. If one spoke to her she followed him always, but remained invisible to everyone else.
Lorelei - in German legend a fairy similar to the Greek Sirens who lived on the rock high on the bank of the Rhine River and by her singing lured the sailors to their death.
Lunantishee - The Lunantishee, or Lunantishess, are a tribe of faeries who guard blackthorn bushes (one of the Fairy Trees). They will not allow that a blackthorn stick is cut on May 11th (originally May Day) or November 11 (originally All Hallows Eve). Should on person manage to cut a stick, some misfortune will surely befall him or her.
Fairy and other Spirits - Definitions. 2000. Fairies, Faeries, Fairys at LaLa's Land. 17 Jan. 2012. http://faeriefae.50megs.com/fairies_defined.htm