poltergeist

Unadapted borrowing from German Poltergeist, from poltern (“to rumble”) +‎ Geist (“ghost”). Cognate with English boulder and ghost.

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊl.tɚˌɡaɪst/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒl.tə.ɡaɪst/, /ˈpəʊl.təˌɡaɪst/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

poltergeist (plural poltergeists or poltergeister)

1. (parapsychology) An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about.

   A poltergeist haunts the house by moving objects around, making chain-rattling noises and throwing things.

   The chapel is haunted by a demonic poltergeist.

   • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

     "Perhaps even a small poltergeist might come your way. Any trifle would be welcome." His bull's bellow of laughter followed them into the lift.

   • 2013, Kazerad, Aggy: Approach, in: Prequel -or- Making a Cat Cry: The Adventure (webcomic), November 22 2013

     I risk becoming nothing more than a common poltergeist wallowing in regrets and introspection and other terrible things.

• See also Thesaurus:ghost

• poltergeistic
• poltergeistism
• poltergeistlike
• poltergeisty

Unadapted borrowing from German Poltergeist.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɔl.tɛr.ɡajst/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔltɛrɡajst
• Syllabification: pol‧ter‧geist

poltergeist m animal

1. (parapsychology) poltergeist (unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about)

• poltergeist in Polish dictionaries at PWN

• Hyphenation: pol‧ter‧geist

poltergeist m (plural poltergeists)

1. (parapsychology) poltergeist (a disruptive ghost)