poltergeist
UK[ˈpɒltəɡaɪst]US[ˈpoʊltərɡaɪst]
n
A type of ghost or supernatural force believed to be responsible for physical disturbances such as loud noises and objects being moved or thrown around.
Etymology
The word 'poltergeist' was borrowed into English directly from German in the mid-19th century. In German, it is a transparent compound: 'poltern' (to make a racket) + 'Geist' (spirit), literally translating to "noisy ghost" or "racket-spirit." This perfectly encapsulates the phenomenon's core characteristic: unexplained, disruptive physical activity attributed to an invisible agent. The term entered the lexicon of psychical research and popular culture, retaining its original German form and precise, descriptive meaning without being assimilated or broken down into English morphological components.
Analysis
This is a direct loanword from German. It is a compound noun in its source language, formed from 'poltern' (meaning to make a loud noise, to rumble, to knock) and 'Geist' (meaning spirit or ghost). However, in the adopted English spelling, it is not segmented into meaningful English morphemes.
Examples
The family claimed their house was haunted by a poltergeist that would move furniture and slam doors.
Reports of poltergeist activity often focus on the movement of small objects.
The film popularized the idea of a poltergeist as a malicious, destructive spirit.