mara

Meaning

Noun

• A nightmare; a spectre or wraith-like creature in Germanic and particularly Scandinavian folklore; a female demon who torments people in sleep by crouching on their chests or stomachs, or by causing terrifying visions.
• A type of god that prevents accomplishment or success.
• Any malicious or evil spirit.
• Any caviid rodent of genus Dolichotis, common in the Patagonian steppes of Argentina.

Origin

• Borrowed from Old Norse mara, from Proto-Germanic *marǭ, cognate with Old English mare or mære. mare. See nightmare.
• Borrowed from Sanskrit मार.
• From New World Spanish mará.