spook

English

/spuːk/

noun
Definitions
  • (informal) A ghost or phantom.
  • A hobgoblin.
  • (informal) A scare or fright.
  • (espionage) A spy.
  • (slang) A black person.
  • (philosophy) A metaphysical manifestation; an artificial distinction or construct.

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch, Flemish spook (ghost) derived from Middle Dutch spooc (ghost, spook, apparition).

Origin

Middle Dutch

spooc

Gloss

ghost, spook, apparition

Concept
Semantic Field

Religion and belief

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Emoji
👻

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms