Where does “Poltergeist” come from?

Poltergeist (German) comes 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 (German): poltergeist

Definitions

  1. poltergeist

Ancestry of “Poltergeist”, step by step

Poltergeist traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German geist

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

via German poltern

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanpolternto rumble; to rant
2Middle High Germanbuldern—
3Middle Low Germanbolderen—

Words derived from “Poltergeist”

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