poltergeist

[ pohl-ter-gahyst ]

noun

1. a ghost or spirit supposed to manifest its presence by noises, knockings, etc.

poltergeist

/ ˈpɒltəˌɡaɪst /

noun

1. a spirit believed to manifest its presence by rappings and other noises and also by acts of mischief, such as throwing furniture about

Word History and Origins

Origin of poltergeist¹

1840–50; < German Poltergeist, equivalent to polter ( n ) to make noise, knock, rattle + Geist ghost

Word History and Origins

Origin of poltergeist¹

C19: from German, from poltern to be noisy + Geist ghost

Example Sentences

It’s a ghost hunter claiming that a wily poltergeist had jammed his poltergeist-detection device.

From Washington Post

Listen to these genuinely disturbing choices below to include for your own poltergeist party, and be sure to check out all the past episodes of The Playlist in the archives.

From Essence.com

H.R. Giger, best known for his work on movies like Alien and Poltergeist 2, died at the age of 74.

From The Daily Beast

The plot hews close to Poltergeist, the Tobe Hooper-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced haunted house classic from 1982.

From The Daily Beast

“It was a pure poltergeist phenomenon and absolutely true to form” he said.

From The Daily Beast

I was told you claimed you had to have a poltergeist in the process.

From Project Gutenberg

I believe that the idea was to appease the Poltergeist, who would otherwise vex and disturb the young couple.

From Project Gutenberg

Rackets in general are caused by lares domestici (“brownies”) or the Poltergeist.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet where did these articles go, and of what use would they be to a poltergeist?

From Project Gutenberg

In short, the usual strange feats that characterise poltergeist phenomena.

From Project Gutenberg