Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
windigo [win-di-goh] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- (in the folklore of the Ojibwa and other Indians) a cannibalistic giant, the transformation of a person who has eaten human flesh.
- Psychiatry. a culture-specific syndrome occurring primarily among the Ojibwa and related Indian peoples and characterized by fever-induced delusions that one is being possessed by such a giant.
Origin of windigo 1705–15; Ojibwa wi·ntiko·; cognate with Cree wi·htiko·w Also called witigo. Examples from the Web for windigo Historical Examples of windigo
They might overtake him, and if they did, a Windigo could expect no mercy from them.
E. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill
He did not intend that the Windigo should creep on their camp without his knowing it.
E. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill
But we must watch that we are not taken unawares by the evil Windigo.
E. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill
He is a Windigo, in league with the evil one and hungering for human flesh.
E. C. [Ethel Claire] Brill
The Windigo at once consented: we got into his canoe, and he ferried us over.
W. F. Butler
British Dictionary definitions for windigo windigo noun
- a variant of wendigo