Where does “poltergeist” come from?

poltergeist (English) comes from German Poltergeist, from German geist, from Middle High German geist, from Old High German geist, from Proto-West Germanic gaist, from Proto-Germanic gaistaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- — anger, agitation.

poltergeist (English): An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes...

Definitions

  1. An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes...

Ancestry of “poltergeist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanPoltergeistpoltergeist
2Germangeistspirit
3Middle High Germangeist—
4Old High Germangeistspirit
5Proto-West Germanicgaistghost, spirit
6Proto-Germanicgaistazterror, fear; spirit, ghost; mind
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeysd-anger, agitation

Words derived from “poltergeist”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeysd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gaistaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic gaist →