pixy-lead

present singular third person pixy-leads · participle present pixy-leading · participle past pixy-led · past pixy-led

1. usuallyfairyto lead (a traveller) astray or cause them to lose their way by means of enchantment.

   For example, fairies plait your horse's mane, or perhaps they pixy-lead you in the forest.

   2016 November 29, Fortean Times, page 23, column 2

   3 more examples

   The office of some is to steal children; ofothers, to lead travellers astray, as Will o’ the Wisps. or to Pixy-lead them, as it is termed.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 299

   As Will o’ the Wisp, the ignis fatuus, an imp would pixy-lead men on heaths and deserted places late at night.

   1950, Herbert Spencer Robinson, Knox Wilson, Myths and Legends of All Nations, New York: Bantam Books, page 245

   The mischievous Colepexy, for they are never seen in herds, is known to ‘pixy-lead’ domesticated horses and travellers, and has also been known to play Throwing the Rider.

   2002, Robert J. Newland, Mark J. North, Dark Dorset, Weston-Super-Mare: Oakmagic Publications, page 80