Dictionary

hellhound en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈhɛlˌ(h)aʊnd/ (General-American)
• /ˈhɛlhaʊnd/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English helle hound; equivalent to hell + hound.

Meanings

1. A demonic dog of hell, typically of unnatural size, strength or speed, with black fur, glowing eyes, and ghostly or phantom characteristics.
   • From forth the kennell of thy wombe hath crept / A Hell-hound that doth hunt vs all to death: c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 195, column 2:
   • Barricading serves not: fly fast, ye Bodyguards; rabid Insurrection, like the hellhound Chase, uproaring at your heels! 1837, Thomas Carlyle, chapter X, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book VII (The Insurrection of Women):
2. (figuratively) An evil or unpleasant person.

Forms

Relateds

Cerberus · Orthrus

Synonyms

helldog · hound of hell · hound of hell

Translations (6)

cy ufferngi (dog of hell) · cmn 地獄犬 /地狱犬 (dog of hell) · ko 지옥견 (dog of hell) · de Höllenhund (dog of hell) · es cancerbero (dog of hell) · cy gwyllgi (dog of hell)