Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- an evil demon, originally of Muslim legend, supposed to feed on human beings, and especially to rob graves, prey on corpses, etc.
- a grave robber.
- a person who revels in what is revolting.
noun
- a malevolent spirit or ghost
- a person interested in morbid or disgusting things
- a person who robs graves
- (in Muslim legend) an evil demon thought to eat human bodies, either stolen corpses or children
1786, in the English translation of Beckford’s “Vathek,” from Arabic ghul, an evil spirit that robs graves and feeds on corpses, from ghala “he seized.”