knocking spirit en · NOUN
Etymology
Calque of German Poltergeist.
Meanings
-
(German) A poltergeist.
When he was asked if he knew the Kobolds and Knocking-Spirits (Polter Geister), he answered, "What have these to do with me? They are the Devil's spectres, and I do not belong to them."
1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 52:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| knocking spirits | Number=Plur | lexicographic |