In Cornish folklore, piskies are mischievous little fairies said to lead travelers astray.
Piskies, also spelled piskeys, are small supernatural beings in traditional Cornish stories. They are associated with wild places, moors, ancient stones, mines, and other locations where travelers could easily become disoriented. A person bewildered by pisky magic was traditionally described as being “mazed.”
Their behavior is not always hostile. Folklore portrays piskies as playful or helpful on some occasions, but they may also lure people away from familiar paths, into boggy ground, or toward other dangers. One traditional protective trick is to turn a garment inside out, which is said to break the enchantment and help a lost traveler recover the way home.
Cornish folklore contains several kinds of supernatural beings. Knockers are mine spirits associated with underground workings, spriggans are often depicted as more threatening guardians or thieves, and buccas are linked with coastal and mining traditions. Those figures are related regional fairies, but piskies are the classic path-leading tricksters.