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Nessie

Nessie

5 9.9
A large animal that people say lives in Loch Ness, Scotland
  • noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Nessie
  • We tussled and thrashed!" yelled Great-uncle Michael. "Twas a terrible fight, and my life was the prize!" Robert went for a ride on Nessie's back.
  • Nessie the monster

No story about Nessie would be complete without the hoaxes, and there are many.

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Examples

  • Nessie licked Robert's hand and motioned to him with her flipper.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • What's up, Nessie?

  • Did you come to tell us about Nessie?

  • My heart goes out to them and to Nessie.

    Blog text (19)
  • No story about Nessie would be complete without the hoaxes, and there are many.

  • Next time you see old Nessie out there, you just slap a saddle on and then I bet you she won't be so scary.

  • Nessie smiled and waved, too.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Nessie had greenish-blue scales and flippers on her side.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • There are plenty of stories there—ammonites as snakestones, belemnites as thunderbolts, the origins of dragons, Nessie, and so on.

    Blog text (26)
  • Many people believe that Nessie is a legendary monster lurking in Loch Ness.

Synonyms

Loch Ness monster
vsNessie
  • Literature
5 8.0

A large, famous creature like a long-necked animal that people say lives in Loch Ness, Scotland

is the specific folkloric name used for that creature
4 5.9

An imaginary being like a dragon or unicorn with magical powers

is a local aquatic legend rather than a general folklore being
mythical being
vsNessie
1 6.5

A made-up creature from old stories or folk tales

is a specific aquatic local legend rather than a broad mythic entity
mythical monster
vsNessie
1 8.1

A frightening creature from stories or legends that is not real

is a local aquatic legend without stressing frightening or evil traits

Surface Forms

Nessie singular
Nessies plural

Morphology

Nessie = Ness (semi-transparent) = Ness + ie

The formation 'Ness' + diminutive '-ie' is a common nickname pattern, but the specific referent (a mythical creature) depends on cultural knowledge of Loch Ness and is not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Nessie is a friendly nickname formed from Loch Ness and the ending -ie, which makes a name sound 'little' or 'friendly', as in 'doggie'. So the name points to the lake and gives the famous mythical creature an easy, familiar name people can remember.