barghest

Meaning

Noun

• A legendary monstrous black dog, said to possess large teeth and claws, and (sometimes) to be capable of changing form.
• Any ghost, wraith, hobgoblin, elf, or spirit.

Origin

• The etymology of this word is disputed; it is perhaps from Old English burh-ghest ("town-ghost"), or from German Berg-Geist or [[Bär-[[Geist.