Where does “poltergeist” come from?

poltergeist (Polish) 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 (Polish): poltergeist

Definitions

  1. poltergeist

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