Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

What's the 'were' in werewolf? | SPOOKY ETYMOLOGY

16 snips
Oct 23, 2024
Discover the spooky origins of Halloween vocabulary, diving into the etymology of terms like 'ghost' and 'ghoul.' Learn the intriguing meaning behind 'were' in werewolf and the literal definition of 'vampire.' Explore the whimsical tradition of jack-o'-lanterns and the folkloric tale of Stingy Jack. Enjoy funny Halloween costume stories and uncover the fascinating history of witchcraft terminology. Delve into language quirks, ghost words, and the evolution of terms related to fear, connecting them to our cultural legends.
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INSIGHT

Ghoul's Arabic Roots

  • 'Ghoul' comes from Arabic (ghul) meaning 'to seize' and denotes grave-robbing flesh-eaters.
  • Jess Zafarris explains the Arabic male/female forms and the cultural origin via tales like Caliph Vathek.
INSIGHT

Nightmare Is Not About Horses

  • 'Nightmare' uses 'mare' meaning a nocturnal goblin, not a horse.
  • Jess Zafarris notes the word is a fossilized Old English demon term preserved only in 'nightmare'.
INSIGHT

How 'Vampire' Reached English

  • 'Vampire' entered English from Slavic languages during a 1720s vampire hysteria.
  • Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris link the English adoption to Serbian exhumations and literary transmission via French and German.
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