spunkie

American  

[spuhng-kee] / ˈspʌŋ ki /

noun

Scot.

1. a will-o'-the-wisp.

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Etymology

Origin of spunkie

First recorded in 1720–30; spunk + -ie

Example Sentences

Old Nancy, knowing how painfully superstitious Dugald was, refrained from introducing anything more in the shape of either brownie or spunkie.

From Kenneth McAlpine A Tale of Mountain, Moorland and Sea by Stables, Gordon

My Meg she is waitin' abeigh—  Ilk spunkie that flits through the fen Wad jealously lead me astray  Frae my ain bonnie lass o' the glen!

From Old Spookses' Pass, Malcolm's Katie, and other poems by Crawford, Isabella Valancy

The only man interested in business, who walked in a steady manner at his old pace, though he sometimes was seen, being of a spunkie temper, grinding the teeth of vexation, was Mr Cayenne himself.

From The Annals of the Parish; or, the chronicle of Dalmailing during the ministry of the Rev. Micah Balwhidder by Galt, John

Logan, the only senior who marked the byplay, thought him a hardy young spunkie.

From The House with the Green Shutters by Brown, George Douglas

But, ere the genius of road-making had visited it, the benighted wanderer had more reason to apprehend destruction from the delusive light of the "moss-traversing spunkie," than from the sudden flash of the robber's pistol.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various