ghoul

• ghole

From Persian غول (ğul) from Arabic غُول (ḡūl). Compare French goule, of the same origin.

• IPA^(key): /ɡuːl/, /ɡʊəl/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -uːl

ghoul (plural ghouls)

1. (mythology, Islam) A demon said to feed on corpses.
   • 1927, H.P. Lovecraft, Pickman's Model‎:

     The other chamber had shown a pack of ghouls and witches over-running the world of our forefathers, but this one brought the horror right into our own daily life!.

   • 1962, “Monster Mash”, Bobby "Boris" Pickett and Lenny Capizzi (lyrics), performed by Bobby (Boris) Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers:

     From my laboratory in the Castle east
     To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast
     The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
     To get a jolt from my electrodes
     They did the Mash
     They did the Monster Mash.

2. A graverobber.
3. A person with an undue interest in death and corpses, or more generally in things that are revolting and repulsive.
4. (derogatory, slang) A person with a callous or uncaring attitude to human life and suffering, particularly when prioritizing economic concerns.

• (demon) Algol
• (graverobber) resurrection man, resurrectionist, body snatcher

• jinn
• jann
• nasnas
• shaitan
• angel

• Portuguese: ghoul

• Lough, lough

Unadapted borrowing from English ghoul, from Persian غول (ğul).

ghoul m (plural ghouls)

1. (mythology, folklore) ghoul (a spirit said to feed on corpses)