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

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

From National Geographic

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

From National Geographic

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.

From National Geographic

We slide past a shagfoal and a barghest.

From Literature

In the 1950s Reverend Donald Omand was called to investigate the various sightings of the Barghest in the area around Kettleness point.

From BBC