poltergeist
nounUS /ˈpoʊl.tɚˌɡaɪst/ · UK /ˈpɒl.tə.ɡaɪst/
Etymology Unadapted borrowing from German Poltergeist, from poltern (“to rumble”) + Geist (“ghost”), cognates with English boulder and ghost, respectively.
1
Parapsychology, Pseudoscience An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about.
- A poltergeist haunts the house by moving objects around, making chain-rattling noises and throwing things.
- The chapel is haunted by a demonic poltergeist.
2 more examples
- "Perhaps even a small poltergeist might come your way. Any trifle would be welcome." His bull's bellow of laughter followed them into the lift.1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
- I risk becoming nothing more than a common poltergeist wallowing in regrets and introspection and other terrible things.2013, Kazerad, Aggy: Approach, in: Prequel -or- Making a Cat Cry: The Adventure (webcomic), November 22 2013
- Derived terms
- poltergeistic, poltergeistism, poltergeistlike, poltergeisty, poltergoose