barghest

Or bar·guest

[bahr-gest]

noun

1. a legendary doglike goblin believed to portend death or misfortune.

Word History and Origins

Origin of barghest¹

1725–35; apparently bar(row) ² + ghest, Old English gæst, variant of gāst ghost

Example Sentences

So next time you hear a bump in the night, or spot a blue glow in the distance, keep your eyes peeled for the Barghest or Awd Goggie.

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And the Barghest was a spectre who took the form of a bear or a black dog with large, flaming eyes as big as saucers.

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Spellings and specific forms of barghest vary but the dog-like being foretold of pain, disaster, or even death to all who saw it.

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This dog resembled the barghest, a mythical monster often associated with Yorkshire.

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The barghest also elicited howling from dogs in its vicinity, something Dracula protagonist Mina Murray reported took place soon after the arrival of the Demeter.

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