ghoul

An evil and terrifying spirit. In Islamic folklore, a ghoul is an evil demon, often regarded as a child of Iblis, which snatches and devours freshly-buried bodies. It will also attack belated travelers and abduct small children.

❧

Arabic ghul; feminine ghulah.

References

Sources

  • Bonnerjea, Biren. (1920). A Dictionary of Superstitions and Mythology. Thomson Gale.
  • Leach, Maria, ed. (1984). Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend. New York: HarperCollins.