windigo

American  

[win-di-goh] / ˈwɪn dɪˌgoʊ /

noun

1. (in the folklore of the Ojibwe and other Algonquian peoples) a cannibalistic giant, the transformation of a person who has eaten human flesh.

2. Psychiatry. a culture-specific syndrome occurring primarily among the Ojibwe and other Algonquian peoples and characterized by fever-induced delusions that one is being possessed by a cannibalistic giant.

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windigo British  

/ ˈwɪndɪˌɡəʊ /

noun

1. a variant of wendigo

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Etymology

Origin of windigo

First recorded in 1705–15; from Ojibwe wi·ntiko·; cognate with Cree wi·htiko·w

Example Sentences

But what happened is, people tend to get what we call windigo sickness.

From Washington Post

It was as though everyone’s heart were touched a little by the coming cold, as though a shadow of the windigo swept across their minds.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Being called by the men was better than a story, even a windigo story, any old day.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Jacques dreaded only that the windigo might move and destroy the delicate poise of the boat; but she lay very still.

From The Chase of Saint-Castin and Other Stories of the French in the New World by Catherwood, Mary Hartwell

The young Repentigny had been wondering what he should do with his windigo.

From The Chase of Saint-Castin and Other Stories of the French in the New World by Catherwood, Mary Hartwell