A fabulous, dragon-like monster from Irish oral tradition. In one famous story, the Oilliphéist cuts the route of the Shannon River when it hears that St Patrick has come to drive out it and its kind. The Scottish Gaelic variant is called Uilepheist. See also Caoránach, Muirdris.
The name is derived from the Irish oll, "great," and péist, "fabulous beast, monster, reptile."