poltergeist
English
/ˈpoʊl.tɚˌɡaɪst/, /ˈpɒl.tə.ɡaɪst/
noun
Definitions
- An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about.
Etymology
Borrowed from German Poltergeist, poltern (rumble, speak loud) + German Geist (spirit, mind, ghost, spook, intellect).
Origin
German (Berlin)
Geist
Gloss
spirit, mind, ghost, spook, intellect
Concept
Semantic Field
Religion and belief
Ontological Category
Person/Thing
Kanji
霊
Emoji
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- geist English
- poltergeistic English
- poltergeistism English
- poltergeistlike English
- poltergeisty English
- Flaschengeist German
- Forschergeist German
- Freigeist German
- Geist German
- Geisterbahn German
- Geisterfahrer German
- Geisterspiel German
- Geisterstunde German
- Geistesgegenwart German
- Geisteswissenschaft German
- Geisteszustand German
- Kleingeist German
- Polterabend German
- Poltergeist German
- Polterplatz German
- Quälgeist German
- Schöngeist German
- Teamgeist German
- Weltgeist German
- Zeitgeist German
- geistesabwesend German
- geistlich German
- geistreich German
- poltern German
- poltergeest Dutch, Flemish
- полтергейст Russian
- *gaistaz Proto-Germanic
- gejst Danish
- buldern Middle High German
- geist Middle High German