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• Types of Fae from M–R •
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.
M
Mab, the faeries’ midwife. Queen Mab refers to as the queen of the faeries (see below).
Mab, Queen - Mab is the Queen of the Faeries. She is often portrayed as a trickster who robs dairies and steals babies. Mab first appeared in post-sixteenth century English literature, in the poems Nimphidia, and Entertainment at Althorpe by Ben Jonson. The origin of Queen Mab is most likely Celtic, either from Mabb of Welsh Mythology or Maeve (Maebhe) of the Cuchullain tales.
Mermaid or Mer-folk - Water dwellers who are human from the waist up but with tails of fishes. They are irresisible singers who sometimes lure fisherman to their deaths.They lure humans with their beautiful singing, which carries with it an enchantment. They create storms which wreck ships. They are often seen vainly combing their hair, admiring their reflections in mirrors. The Irish equivalent of the mermaid is Murrughach, Murdhuacha (muroo-cha), or Merrows. It is possible for them to take the form of a human with tiny scales and move about on land. They wear a cobullen druith, which is a red cap covered with feathers.
Merrow - both male and female, are spirits of the sea, of human shape from the waist upwards, but from the waist downwards are like a fish. The females are attractive, but the males have green teeth, green hair, pig’s eyes, and red noses. Fishermen dread to meet them. They wear red feather caps. If their caps are stolen, they can't return to the depths of the sea where they live. Female merrows are beautiful and to see one is an omen of a storm, but they are benevolent and often fall in love with fishermen, probably because the male merrows are so repulsive. Males are, however, generally friendly. They often come ashore in the form of small hornless cattle.
Muryans - It's the Cornish word for "ant" . They are the souls of those sent to Purgatory. Their souls dwindle in size until they are the size of ants. Then they disappear, and no one knows where they go after that. So never step on ants. You could be stepping on your ancestors.
Mab, the faeries’ midwife. Queen Mab refers to as the queen of the faeries (see below).
Mab, Queen - Mab is the Queen of the Faeries. She is often portrayed as a trickster who robs dairies and steals babies. Mab first appeared in post-sixteenth century English literature, in the poems Nimphidia, and Entertainment at Althorpe by Ben Jonson. The origin of Queen Mab is most likely Celtic, either from Mabb of Welsh Mythology or Maeve (Maebhe) of the Cuchullain tales.
Mermaid or Mer-folk - Water dwellers who are human from the waist up but with tails of fishes. They are irresisible singers who sometimes lure fisherman to their deaths.They lure humans with their beautiful singing, which carries with it an enchantment. They create storms which wreck ships. They are often seen vainly combing their hair, admiring their reflections in mirrors. The Irish equivalent of the mermaid is Murrughach, Murdhuacha (muroo-cha), or Merrows. It is possible for them to take the form of a human with tiny scales and move about on land. They wear a cobullen druith, which is a red cap covered with feathers.
Merrow - both male and female, are spirits of the sea, of human shape from the waist upwards, but from the waist downwards are like a fish. The females are attractive, but the males have green teeth, green hair, pig’s eyes, and red noses. Fishermen dread to meet them. They wear red feather caps. If their caps are stolen, they can't return to the depths of the sea where they live. Female merrows are beautiful and to see one is an omen of a storm, but they are benevolent and often fall in love with fishermen, probably because the male merrows are so repulsive. Males are, however, generally friendly. They often come ashore in the form of small hornless cattle.
Muryans - It's the Cornish word for "ant" . They are the souls of those sent to Purgatory. Their souls dwindle in size until they are the size of ants. Then they disappear, and no one knows where they go after that. So never step on ants. You could be stepping on your ancestors.
N
Naiad - water-nymphs.
Nis or Nisse - a Kobold or Brownie. A Scandinavian faery friendly to farmhouses.
Nix or Nixie - a water-spirit. The nix has green teeth, and wears a green hat: the nicie is very beautiful.
Nuckelavee - He is a horrible Scottish sea faerie who appears as a gigantic horse with legs that are part flipper, a gigantic mouth and blazing, evil eyes. Rising from its back is a hideous torso with arms that nearly reach the ground and it appears that its neck is too weak to support its monstrous head. It has no skin, exposing black blood in yellow veins, white sinews, and strong red muscles. He hates fresh running water, so if you are ever chased by him, just find a stream and cross it.
Nuggie - Scotland; a water sprite.
Nuno sa Punso - Filipino goblins.
Naiad - water-nymphs.
Nis or Nisse - a Kobold or Brownie. A Scandinavian faery friendly to farmhouses.
Nix or Nixie - a water-spirit. The nix has green teeth, and wears a green hat: the nicie is very beautiful.
Nuckelavee - He is a horrible Scottish sea faerie who appears as a gigantic horse with legs that are part flipper, a gigantic mouth and blazing, evil eyes. Rising from its back is a hideous torso with arms that nearly reach the ground and it appears that its neck is too weak to support its monstrous head. It has no skin, exposing black blood in yellow veins, white sinews, and strong red muscles. He hates fresh running water, so if you are ever chased by him, just find a stream and cross it.
Nuggie - Scotland; a water sprite.
Nuno sa Punso - Filipino goblins.
O
Oaf - a foolish child thought to be a changeling, left by the faeries in the place of the stolen one.
Oakmen - Britain. Wood sprites who live in oak trees and oak groves. They are hostile to humans but benevolent to wild life.
Oberon - the king of the faeries, husband of Titania, queen of the fairies, in medieval folklore. Shakespeare introduces both Oberon and Titania, in his play "Midsummer Night’s Dream". Described as being a dwarf with a beautiful face and kingly deportment. He is capable of playing pranks and working mischief both with fairies as well as with humans. He haunts the English woods and forests with his sprites led by Puck.
Ogre - an inhabitant of faerieland said to feed on infant children.
Old People - Cornish name for faeries.
Oonagh (oona) - Ireland. Wife of Fin Bheara.
Onagh - consort of Finvarra. They were the supreme King and Queen of the Sidhe.
Orends - mountain nymphs.
Ouphe - a faery or goblin. A changeling or elf child, that is, one left by faeries; a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an oaf.
Oaf - a foolish child thought to be a changeling, left by the faeries in the place of the stolen one.
Oakmen - Britain. Wood sprites who live in oak trees and oak groves. They are hostile to humans but benevolent to wild life.
Oberon - the king of the faeries, husband of Titania, queen of the fairies, in medieval folklore. Shakespeare introduces both Oberon and Titania, in his play "Midsummer Night’s Dream". Described as being a dwarf with a beautiful face and kingly deportment. He is capable of playing pranks and working mischief both with fairies as well as with humans. He haunts the English woods and forests with his sprites led by Puck.
Ogre - an inhabitant of faerieland said to feed on infant children.
Old People - Cornish name for faeries.
Oonagh (oona) - Ireland. Wife of Fin Bheara.
Onagh - consort of Finvarra. They were the supreme King and Queen of the Sidhe.
Orends - mountain nymphs.
Ouphe - a faery or goblin. A changeling or elf child, that is, one left by faeries; a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an oaf.
P
Peg Powler - She inhabits the River Tees. She is a green water Hag with long hair and sharp teeth. She is fond of grabbing the ankles of those who stand too close to or wade into the water and pulling them underwater to drown. Fear of her was written into a popular Mother Goose rhyme:
"Mother, may I go out to swim?" "Yes, my darling daughter. Hang your clothes on an alder limb And don't go near the water."
The People of the Hills - English faeries who live under green mounds. subterranean faeries.
People of Peace - Ireland, Scotland. Another name for the Daoine Sidhe.
Peri - a Persian faery. Evil peris are called “Deevs”
Perit - In Albanian folklore, they are female mountain deities of great beauty. They are dressed entirely in white and are regarded as good faeries. They can become very angry towards those who spill bread, and will give these sinners a hump.
Phooka or Phouka (pooka) - This is an Irish Goblin who appears as a variety of beasts. It can take various forms and is considered dangerous. Sometimes he appears as a dog, a bull, a horse, or an eagle and he is almost always black with blazing eyes. He is fond of offering rides to weary travellers, appearing to be a kind, docile pony, but then takes them for the wildest ride of their lives once they have mounted and soon after dumps them headfirst into an undesirable locale.
Pigwidgeon - a faery of very diminutive size or dwarf; anything very small.
Pixy or Pixie - The name for faeries in Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. Green faeries who often take the form of hedgehogs. They are also known as urchins, pisgies, piskies, and pigseys. They originated in Cornwall. They like to dance in the shadows of stones. Their bells are often heard on the moor. They like to steal horses and torture them to get them to run faster. They delight in throwing pots and pans at kitchen girls. They usually mean no harm, however. Beware of doing pixies favors, for they have a tendency to backfire. Pixies have been described as "small mischeivious beings without wings. They hop! They have spingy feet and long legs."
The Plant Annwn (plant anoon): Wales. Gwragen Annwn is the Welsh name for their women. Faeries of the Underworld. The entrance to their kingdom is through lakes. Their king is called Gwyn ap Nudd. Their speckled cattle are Gwartheg Y Llyn and their white hounds are the Cwn Annwn (see Hounds of the Hill).
Plant Rhys Dwfen - The Plant Rhys Dwfen ("children of Deep Rhys") are a tribe of fairies who inhabit a small land which is invisible because of a special herb that grows there. They are handsome, less than average in height, and grateful to those who treat them fairly. They often visit markets in Cardigan where they pay such high prices for goods that ordinary buyers can not compete with them. When visiting the main land, they assume human form.
Portunes - Portunes are tiny medieval faeries, described by Gervase of Tilbury as being the size of a finger. They are very old men with wrinkled faces who work on human farms. Friendly and helpful they may be, at night they cannot resist grabbing the bridle of a horse and leading the horse and its rider into ponds. They are small agricultural faeries who work on human farms by day, and spit-roast frogs by night. They are generally very old men with wrinkled faces and patched coats. However kind they are, they have a weakness for grabbing the bridles of horses whom men are riding alone at night and leading them into ponds, laughing.
Puck - a merry little faery spirit, full of fun and harmless mischief; (and from "Encyclopaedia Britannica")--medieval English folklore, a malicious faery or demon. In Elizabethan lore he was a mischievous, brownielike fairy also called Robin Goodfellow, or Hobgoblin. As one of the leading characters in William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck boasts of his pranks of changing shapes, misleading travelers at night, spoiling milk, frightening young girls, and tripping venerable old dames. The Irish pooka, or púca, and the Welsh pwcca are similar household spirits.
Peg Powler - She inhabits the River Tees. She is a green water Hag with long hair and sharp teeth. She is fond of grabbing the ankles of those who stand too close to or wade into the water and pulling them underwater to drown. Fear of her was written into a popular Mother Goose rhyme:
"Mother, may I go out to swim?" "Yes, my darling daughter. Hang your clothes on an alder limb And don't go near the water."
The People of the Hills - English faeries who live under green mounds. subterranean faeries.
People of Peace - Ireland, Scotland. Another name for the Daoine Sidhe.
Peri - a Persian faery. Evil peris are called “Deevs”
Perit - In Albanian folklore, they are female mountain deities of great beauty. They are dressed entirely in white and are regarded as good faeries. They can become very angry towards those who spill bread, and will give these sinners a hump.
Phooka or Phouka (pooka) - This is an Irish Goblin who appears as a variety of beasts. It can take various forms and is considered dangerous. Sometimes he appears as a dog, a bull, a horse, or an eagle and he is almost always black with blazing eyes. He is fond of offering rides to weary travellers, appearing to be a kind, docile pony, but then takes them for the wildest ride of their lives once they have mounted and soon after dumps them headfirst into an undesirable locale.
Pigwidgeon - a faery of very diminutive size or dwarf; anything very small.
Pixy or Pixie - The name for faeries in Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. Green faeries who often take the form of hedgehogs. They are also known as urchins, pisgies, piskies, and pigseys. They originated in Cornwall. They like to dance in the shadows of stones. Their bells are often heard on the moor. They like to steal horses and torture them to get them to run faster. They delight in throwing pots and pans at kitchen girls. They usually mean no harm, however. Beware of doing pixies favors, for they have a tendency to backfire. Pixies have been described as "small mischeivious beings without wings. They hop! They have spingy feet and long legs."
The Plant Annwn (plant anoon): Wales. Gwragen Annwn is the Welsh name for their women. Faeries of the Underworld. The entrance to their kingdom is through lakes. Their king is called Gwyn ap Nudd. Their speckled cattle are Gwartheg Y Llyn and their white hounds are the Cwn Annwn (see Hounds of the Hill).
Plant Rhys Dwfen - The Plant Rhys Dwfen ("children of Deep Rhys") are a tribe of fairies who inhabit a small land which is invisible because of a special herb that grows there. They are handsome, less than average in height, and grateful to those who treat them fairly. They often visit markets in Cardigan where they pay such high prices for goods that ordinary buyers can not compete with them. When visiting the main land, they assume human form.
Portunes - Portunes are tiny medieval faeries, described by Gervase of Tilbury as being the size of a finger. They are very old men with wrinkled faces who work on human farms. Friendly and helpful they may be, at night they cannot resist grabbing the bridle of a horse and leading the horse and its rider into ponds. They are small agricultural faeries who work on human farms by day, and spit-roast frogs by night. They are generally very old men with wrinkled faces and patched coats. However kind they are, they have a weakness for grabbing the bridles of horses whom men are riding alone at night and leading them into ponds, laughing.
Puck - a merry little faery spirit, full of fun and harmless mischief; (and from "Encyclopaedia Britannica")--medieval English folklore, a malicious faery or demon. In Elizabethan lore he was a mischievous, brownielike fairy also called Robin Goodfellow, or Hobgoblin. As one of the leading characters in William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck boasts of his pranks of changing shapes, misleading travelers at night, spoiling milk, frightening young girls, and tripping venerable old dames. The Irish pooka, or púca, and the Welsh pwcca are similar household spirits.
R
Raja Jinn Peri - The King of Faeries in Malay mythology.
Redcap - He is one of the most evil Goblins. He inhabits ruined towers, especially those that have a history of evil. His red cap is dyed with human blood.
Roane - from Scottish Highlands. Water Elementals or mermen who take the form of seals. Irish name for the Selkie.
Rod - In Slavic mythology, the Rod are the spirits of deceased female ancestors and are considered to be goddesses of fate and faeries. As three women they appear at the cradle of a newborn child and decide the child's fate. In invisible letters they write on the child's forehead the life span and the way he or she will die. They also decide whether the child will live a poor or rich life, and the measure of poverty or wealth. They can be compared with the Norns, the Norse goddesses of fate, and the Greek Moirae.
Ryme - the Frost giant, the enemy of the elves and faeries. At the end of the world this giant is to be the pilot of the ship Naglefarë.
Raja Jinn Peri - The King of Faeries in Malay mythology.
Redcap - He is one of the most evil Goblins. He inhabits ruined towers, especially those that have a history of evil. His red cap is dyed with human blood.
Roane - from Scottish Highlands. Water Elementals or mermen who take the form of seals. Irish name for the Selkie.
Rod - In Slavic mythology, the Rod are the spirits of deceased female ancestors and are considered to be goddesses of fate and faeries. As three women they appear at the cradle of a newborn child and decide the child's fate. In invisible letters they write on the child's forehead the life span and the way he or she will die. They also decide whether the child will live a poor or rich life, and the measure of poverty or wealth. They can be compared with the Norns, the Norse goddesses of fate, and the Greek Moirae.
Ryme - the Frost giant, the enemy of the elves and faeries. At the end of the world this giant is to be the pilot of the ship Naglefarë.
Fairy and other Spirits - Definitions. 2000. Fairies, Faeries, Fairys at LaLa's Land. 17 Jan. 2012. http://faeriefae.50megs.com/fairies_defined.htm