ghoul
/ɡuːl/
noun
Origin
Arabic
ghūl — demon, monster
Overview
Meaning Now
- A legendary evil being, often described as a demon or spirit, that robs graves and feeds on corpses.
- A person who shows morbid interest in death, disaster, or gruesome subjects.
Literal older meaning
In Arabic folklore, a desert demon or shape-shifting spirit.
Language path
Arabic → French → English
Earliest form
ghoul
Earliest period
18th century
Journey
The concept of the ghoul originated in pre-Islamic Arabian mythology as a type of jinn that inhabited graveyards and desolate places. They were feared for their ability to lure travelers into the desert to kill and devour them. Upon entering European literature in the 18th century, the term was heavily popularized by gothic horror writers, solidifying its association with corpses and necrophagy.
Evolution
- Classical Arabic
ghūl
“a desert spirit capable of shape-shifting”
Derived from the verb 'ghāla' meaning 'to seize' or 'to destroy'.
- 18th century French
ghoul
“a demon that feeds on the dead”
Introduced to French via the translation of 'One Thousand and One Nights'.
- Modern English
ghoul
“a person obsessed with the macabre or a grave-robbing demon”
Connections
Word parts
ghoul
root
Arabic root relating to seizing or destroying
Related across languages
Arabic
ghūl
demon, monster
Turkish
gulyabani
a mythical creature or monster
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.