ghoul
Other forms: ghouls
A ghoul is an evil demon, ghost, or fiend. On Halloween, the kids dressed as fairies and pumpkins look cute. The kids dressed as ghouls, with fake blood dripping down their faces and hair matted in knots? Not so cute.
The word ghoul originates in the Arabic word “ghul,” which refers to an evil spirit that digs up graves and eats the dead. Some confuse ghoul with the word “gremlin,” but the two are not interchangeable. A gremlin does not gorge on the flesh of the dead; it is more a mischievous imp and troublemaker, famous for causing mechanical difficulties in World War II aircraft.
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an evil spirit or ghosttype of:evil spirita spirit tending to cause harm
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someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissectionsynonyms: body snatcher, graverobber
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Vocabulary lists containing ghoul
Haunted by the apparition of overused terms like spooky and creepy? Fear not! Learn lesser-known words like eldritch and hallow, and even if you don't have the best costume, you'll have the best vocabulary. Learn about the deep, dark past of these words in the full article: A Big Bag of Halloween Terms
All of the English words on this lists have Arabic origins. While some, like caliph and imam, clearly come from Arabic sources, you might be surprised to discover that algebra, chemistry, and zero are also derived from Arabic. Learn these words that contribute to the richness and variety of the English language.
