taibhse

The Gaelic word for ghost, apparition, specter. There was hardly a mansion in Scotland in which there was not a haunted room. Ghosts would return to the room where they had been murdered and would not rest until they told who the murderer was, or pointed out where the body lay. Sometimes it would take several generations before some one was bold enough to stay in the haunted room, and question the spirits what they wanted. Those who did so took with them a table, a chair, a candle, a compass, a crucifix, and a Bible. Sometimes the spirit itself was the executioner of vengeance, causing the death of their murderers.

Certain spots, woods, parts of public roads, bridges, and some churchyards were also believed to be haunted by ghosts. Also gaist, gast.

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