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Grindylow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In English folklore, Grindylow or Grundylow is a creature in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.[1] The name is thought to be connected to Grendel,[1][2] a name or term used in Beowulf and in many Old English charters where it is seen in connection with meres, bogs and lakes.[3]

Grindylows are supernatural creatures that appear in the folklore of England, most notably the Lancaster area. They are described as diminutive humanoids with scaly skin, a greenish complexion, sharp claws and teeth, and long, wiry arms with lengthy fingers at the end. They dwell in ponds and marshes waiting for unsuspecting children, which they grab with their shockingly strong grip, and then drag under the surface of the waters.[4][5]

Grindylows have been used as shadowy figures to frighten children away from pools, marshes, or ponds where they could drown.[6][7]

Peg Powler, Nelly Longarms, and Jenny Greenteeth are similar water spirits.[4][8][9]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Skilbeck, William Wray, ed. (1910). "page 556". The Nineteenth Century and After. 68. Leonard Scott Publishing Company.
  2. ^ Schilling, Karl Georg (1906). A Grammar of the Dialect of Oldham. p. 17. ASIN B003E47XZO.
  3. ^ "Explanatory Notes on Beowulf". heorot.dk. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b Harland, John (1867). Lancashire Folk-Lore. Frederick Warne & Co. p. 53. ASIN B0DFW48M2X.
  5. ^ Briggs, Katharine (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies. Pantheon Books. p. 206. ISBN 0394409183..
  6. ^ Wright, Elizabeth Mary (1913). Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore. Humphrey Milford. p. 198-199.
  7. ^ Colbert, David (2001). The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter. Berkley Books. p. 123-124. ISBN 0-9708442-0-4.
  8. ^ Briggs 1976, p. 242, 323.
  9. ^ Wright 1913, p. 198–199, 202.
  10. ^ Rowling, J. K. (1999). Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Scholastic Press. p. 154. ISBN 0-439-13635-0..
  11. ^ Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2. Paizo Publishing. December 2010. ISBN 978-1-60125-268-5.