First published 1914; not yet revised More entries for "spook"

Tabbed view

spooknoun

Meaning & use

Quotations

Show all quotations

1.
1801–

A spectre, apparition, ghost. Often somewhat jocular or colloquial.
First in American usage, which is illustrated separately in the first set of quotations.
(a)
1. 1801
  By mine dunder I fly so swift as any spook.
  Massachusetts Spy 15 July
2. 1833
  Who ever heard of a spook eating?
  J. K. Paulding, Banks of Ohio vol. III. iii. 40
3. a1853
  There did I see a Spook, sure enough,—milk-white, and moving round.
  ‘Dow, Jr.’, Patent Serm. iii. 158
4. 1878
  The corners of New England which spooks and spirits were the last to leave.
  W. H. Daniels, That Boy i
(b)
1. 1859
  Broom, avaunt thee! To thy nook there! Lie, thou spook, there!
  W. E. Aytoun & T. Martin, translation of J. W. Goethe, Poems & Ball., Magician's Apprentice 102
2. 1873
  I am haunted by a spook with oblique eyes and a pigtail.
  J. B. Stephens, Black Gin 11
3. 1891
  To what particular order of spook or spectre may he be assigned?
  Tablet 19 September 446
attributive
1. 1842
  A-clatterin' the ghosts of dishes..as tho' he was bringin' in a spook-dinner.
  Spirit of Times (Philadelphia) 7 March
2. 1878
  I became acquainted with a ‘spooke story,’..which [etc.].
  A. Aylward, Transvaal of To-day 213
3. 1896
  An alleged spook-photo.
  Westminster Gazette 10 January 3/3
colloquial and slang humorous
the world the supernatural supernatural being or deity ghost or phantom [nouns]
ghostOld English–

The soul or spirit of a dead person or animal, conceived of as appearing in visible form or otherwise manifesting in the physical world, typically…
hueOld English–1603

concrete. An apparition, a phantasm. Obsolete.
soulOld English–

The disembodied spirit of a deceased person (or occasionally an animal) regarded as a separate entity and invested with some degree of…
fantasyc1325–1583

A spectral apparition, phantom; an illusory appearance. Obs.
spiritc1350–

An incorporeal, supernatural, rational being, of a type usually regarded as imperceptible to humans but capable of becoming visible at will, and…
phantomc1384–

A thing (usually with human form) that appears to the sight or other sense, but has no material substance; an apparition, a spectre, a ghost. Also…
phantasmc1430–

An apparition, spirit, or ghost; a visible but incorporeal being. Now archaic and rare.
haunterc1440–

One who or that which haunts, in various senses; a frequenter.
shadowa1464–

A spectral form, phantom; = shade, n. II.6.
appearance1488–

That which appears without being material; a phantom or apparition.
wraith1513–

An apparition or spectre of a dead person; a phantom or ghost.
hag1538–1637

A frightening apparition or creature, esp. a ghost. Obsolete.
spoorn1584–1790

A special kind of spectre or phantom.
vizarda1591

A phantasm or spectre. Obsolete. rare.
life-in-death1593–

A condition of being or seeming to be neither alive nor dead, a phantom state between life and death; (in extended use) something having the form or…
phantasma1598–

= phantasm, n. (in various senses).
umbra1601–

The shade of a deceased person; a phantom or ghost. Also figurative.
larve1603–

= larva, n. 1.
spectre1605–

An apparition, phantom, or ghost, esp. one of a terrifying nature or aspect.
spectrum1611–

An apparition or phantom; a spectre.
idolon1612–

A non-material image of a person or thing; esp. a mental image, visualization, or conception.
apparitiona1616–

spec. An immaterial appearance as of a real being; a spectre, phantom, or ghost. (The ordinary current sense.)
shadea1616–

A spectre, phantom. rare.
shapea1616–

concrete. An imaginary, spectral, or ethereal form; a phantom. Now rare.
showa1616–1841

A phantom, a vision, an apparition. Obsolete.
larva1651–

A disembodied spirit; a ghost, hobgoblin, spectre. Obsolete exc. Historical.
white hat?1693

Newfoundland. The name of a spirit or ghost. Obsolete. rare.
zumbi1704–

Chiefly in West and South-west African (esp. Angolan) contexts: the ghost or spirit of a dead person, esp. a malevolent one. Occasionally also Car…
jumbie1764–

The ghost or spirit of a dead person, esp. a malevolent one. Cf. duppy, n., zombie, n. I.1.
duppy1774–

A name among black West Indians for a ghost or spirit.
waff1777–

An apparition, wraith. = waft, n.¹ 7.
zombie1788–

In parts of the Caribbean (esp. Haiti) and the southern United States: the ghost or spirit of a dead person, esp. a malevolent one. Cf. zumbi, n., j…
Wild Huntsman1796–

A phantom huntsman of Teutonic legend, fabled to ride at night through the fields and woods with shouts and baying of hounds.
spook1801–

A spectre, apparition, ghost. Often somewhat jocular or colloquial.
ghostie1810–

A ghost.
hantua1811–

An evil spirit, a ghost.
preta1811–

The disembodied soul of a dead person, esp. before the completion of funeral rites and ceremonies allowing it to leave the world of humans as an…
bodach1814–

A peasant, churl; also (Scottish) a spectre.
revenant1823–

A person who returns from the dead; a reanimated corpse; a ghost. Also figurative.
death-fetch1826–

(a) An apparition or double of a living person that is superstitiously believed to portend the person's death; (b) a spirit supposed to come and…
sowlth1829–

A formless, luminous spectre. Chiefly in the writings of W. B. Yeats.
kehua1839–

The spirit of a dead person; a ghost.
haunt1843–

U.S. regional and English regional. A spirit supposed to haunt a place; a ghost. Also (occasionally) in wider use.
night-bat1847–

(a) Caribbean (Barbados and Guyana) a bat; (b) now literary a ghost, a bogey; (c) chiefly Jamaican, a large night-flying moth.
spectrality1850–

A phantasm; ghostliness.
thivish1852–

A ghost, apparition, or spectre.
beastie1867–

Originally Scottish. A frightening supernatural creature or spirit; a ghost, hobgoblin, or bogey; a monster.
ghost soul1869–

(In the context of spiritualism and shamanism) the soul of a human or animal that animates the body but can exist and travel separately from it, as…
barrow-wight1891–

A mound of earth or stones erected in early times over a grave; a grave-mound, a tumulus. Also attributive as barrow-wight n. (see quot. 1891); so…
resurrect1892

A person who has risen from the dead.
waft1897–

An apparition, wraith. Cf. waff, n. 5.
churel1901–

In India, the ghost of a woman who has died in child-birth, believed to haunt lonely places malevolently and to spread disease.
comeback1908–

A person who has returned; (also) a ghost. rare.
View in Historical Thesaurus
2.
1942–

slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). An undercover agent; a spy.
1. 1942
  ‘Spotter.’ (One who spys upon employees.).. Silent eye, spook, spotter.
  L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark, American Thesaurus of Slang §458/16
2. 1942
  Rat, rubber heel, spook, spotter, a person employed to detect irregularities.
  L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark, American Thesaurus of Slang §765/7
3. 1954
  The spooks were senior constables who wore no uniform, worked in pairs and followed constables about the city and suburbs to see if they did their work properly.
  People (Australia) 3 November 24/1
4. 1961
  The idea of making a living as a spy—‘spook’ in current Washington slang—is repugnant to most of us.
  John o' London's 20 April 434/1
5. 1966
  I'd like him to get out of the spook business.
  R. Thomas, Spy in Vodka (1967) vi. 50
6. 1979
  ‘My training was also in espionage at the CIA farm.’.. ‘A spook,’ I said in wonder.
  L. Pryor, Viper i. 9
espionage U.S. English colloquial and slang
the mind attention and judgement enquiry investigation, inspection secret observation, spying [nouns] a secret observer, spy secret agent
intelligencer1540–

A person who is employed to obtain confidential information; an informer, a spy, a secret agent. Now chiefly historical.
intelligentiary1577

= intelligencer, n. 1.
under-puller1682–

A secret agent.
agent1804–

A person acting on behalf of another. A person who works secretly to obtain information for a government or other official body; a spy.
foreign agent1822–

A person who represents or acts on behalf of one country while located in another; (in later use spec.) a person who works secretly to obtain…
operative1901–

Originally and chiefly U.S. An agent employed by a detective agency, secret service, or similar organization; a private investigator. In later use…
spook1942–

slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). An undercover agent; a spy.
under-cover1962–

An undercover agent. slang.
Abwehr agent1990–

General attributive, as Abwehr agent, Abwehr chief, Abwehr official, etc.
View in Historical Thesaurus
3.
1945–

slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). A derogatory term for a black person.
1. 1945
  Spook (n), frightened negro.
  L. Shelly, Hepcats Jive Talk Dictionary 17/2
2. 1953
  The boss of the ward..was doing time for going with ‘spooks’—negroes.
  K. Tennant, Joyful Condemned xxvii. 262
3. 1966
  I find a disturbing minority of my English contemporaries..pointedly tossing off inconsequential remarks about spades and spooks in my company.
  New Statesman 25 November 778/1
4. 1977
  We almost had another riot... The bar-owner..shoots a spook in his parking lot.
  E. Leonard, Unknown Man No. 89 xxiii. 235
U.S. English colloquial and slang derogatory
the world people ethnicity, race, or heritage black person [nouns]
AfricOld English–

A native or inhabitant of Africa, esp. a black African; = African, n. A.1a.
EthiopOld English–

A black or dark-skinned person; a black African; (occasionally) an Ethiopian.
MoorOld English–

Originally: a native or inhabitant of ancient Mauretania, a region of North Africa corresponding to parts of present-day Morocco and Algeria. Later…
blomana1225–1400

A black man.
Ethiopiana1325–

A native or inhabitant of Ethiopia. Also: †a black or dark-skinned person (obsolete). Cf. earlier Ethiop, n.
blue mana1387–

A black man; an African; = bloman, n.
Moriana1387–1737

= Moor, n.² 1.
black mana1398–

A dark-skinned man, esp. a man of sub-Saharan African or Australian Aboriginal origin or descent. Also: †a dark-haired or swarthy man (obsolete). Cf…
blackamoor1525–

Now archaic and offensive. A black person, esp. an African; (formerly) spec. †an Ethiopian (obsolete). Also: any dark-skinned person.
black Morian1526–99

= blackamoor, n. 1.
black boy1530–

A dark-skinned boy or youth.
molen1538

Perhaps: a Moor. Cf. Morian, n.
Nigro1548–1865

= Negro, n. & adj.
Nigrite1554–97

= Negro, n. A.1a.
Negro1555–

A member of a dark-skinned group of peoples originally native to sub-Saharan Africa; a person of black African origin or descent. In early use… The term Negro remained the standard designation throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, and was still used as a standard designation, preferred by prominent black American campaigners such as W. E. B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington, until the middle years of the 20th cent. With the rise of the Black Power movement in the 1960s, the designation black was reclaimed as an expression of racial pride and, since then, the term Negro (together with related terms such as Negress) has fallen from favour and is now typically regarded as out of date or even offensive in both British and American English. Negro is still, however, used in positive contexts as part of the names of certain organizations, particularly the United Negro College Fund, and in historical context, with reference to baseball's Negro Leagues.
neger1568–

Now regional (chiefly Caribbean). Usually derogatory. = Negro, n. A.1a.
nigger1577–

This word is one of the most controversial in English, and is liable to be considered offensive or taboo in almost all contexts (even when used as a self-description). A dark-skinned person of sub-Saharan African origin or descent; = Negro, n. A.1a. Used by people who are not black as a relatively neutral (or…
Kaffir1607–

offensive. A black person, esp. one from southern Africa. In later use derogatory. Now chiefly historical.
black1614–

Also with capital initial. A member of any dark-skinned group of peoples, esp. a person of sub-Saharan African origin or descent. Also (esp. Austr…
thicklipsa1616–

A person or animal characterized as having thick or full lips. Sometimes in derogatory and offensive use as term or name for a black person (esp. in…
Hubsheea1627–

An Abyssinian (now historical); an Ethiopian.
black African1633–

(a) n. A dark-skinned African; esp. one who is a native or inhabitant of sub-Saharan Africa (cf. black Africa, n.); (b) adj. of or relating to…
Sambo1657–

Originally (depreciative): used as a nickname for a black person. Later (derogatory and offensive): used as a hostile or contemptuous term for a…
blackface1704–

Originally and chiefly U.S. A dark-skinned person. Also without article, as if a name. Now rare and offensive.
Cuffy1713–

(A name or nickname for) a black person (esp. a man). Cf. Cuff, n.⁵ 1. Now rare. Often in patronizing or derogatory use, and now usually regarded as offensive.
Nigritian1738–

Originally: a native or inhabitant of Nigritia, a region in central Africa corresponding to present-day Sudan and several countries to the west of…
fellow1753–1860

North American (U.S. regional (southern) in later use) depreciative. A black man. Obsolete.
Cuff1755–

(A name or nickname for) a black person (esp. a man); = Cuffy, n. 1. Now rare. Often in patronizing or derogatory use, and now usually regarded as offensive.
blacky1759–

A black person. Frequently without article, as though a proper name. Now offensive.
mungo1768–

A black person, esp. a slave. Also used as a proper name.
Quashie1774–

Caribbean (offensive and chiefly derogatory). A generic name for: a black person, esp. one considered as credulous or insignificant.
darkie?1775–

Originally North American. A dark-skinned person of sub-Saharan African origin or descent. Now colloquial and often offensive or derogatory (see…
snowball1785–

derogatory and offensive. (An insulting name or term of abuse for) a black person.
blue skin1788–

derogatory. A black person or a person of mixed black and white descent. Now rare.
Moriscan1794

A Moor. rare.
sooty1820–

offensive (usually derogatory or depreciative). A dark-skinned person of sub-Saharan African origin or descent; a black person. Sometimes also more…
sooterkin1821–

transferred. Chiefly applied to persons in allusive senses; sometimes = Dutchman. Also attributive.
blackfellow1827–

An Australian Aboriginal man or (occasionally) woman. Now frequently considered offensive.
ebony1830–

Originally U.S. A black person; (now usually) a black woman, spec. one with very dark skin. Now colloquial and offensive outside of black usage.
nigc1832–

Used chiefly as a term of abuse or contempt, this word is likely to be considered racially offensive or taboo in almost all contexts (even when used as a self-description). colloquial and derogatory (chiefly U.S.). = nigger, n. (in various senses).
Jim Crow1838–

Derogatory and offensive. A black person.
tar brush1838–

derogatory and offensive. A black or dark-skinned person.
tar baby1839–

derogatory and offensive. U.S. A black person, esp. a child having skin that is considered to be particularly dark.
dark-skin1845–

Usually derogatory and offensive. A black or dark-skinned person; spec. (Australian) a person of Australian Aboriginal origin or descent. (obsolete).
mokec1847–

U.S. derogatory (offensive). A black person. Also (in extended use): a dark-skinned person of any race. Now rare.
coon1848–

slang (derogatory and offensive). A black person; a person of African origin or descent; an African American person.
dinge1848–

slang (offensive and derogatory). Cf. sense B U.S. A black person; (sometimes) spec. a black musician. Cf. dingy, n.
dark meat1849–

U.S. slang (derogatory). A black or dark-skinned person regarded as a sexual object; black or dark-skinned people considered collectively…
monkey1849–

Originally U.S. (derogatory and offensive). A non-white or dark-skinned person.
dark1853–

A member of a black or dark-skinned group of people. Now rare (usually derogatory and offensive in later use).
Sam1854–

Originally and chiefly U.S. Usually depreciative or derogatory. Now likely to be considered offensive. A black man; (more generally) a black person; spec. one who is considered to be demeaningly obedient or deferential to white people (cf. Uncle Tom, n.…
ebon1859–

U.S. A black person. Now rare, archaic, and likely to be considered offensive.
Negroid1860–

Originally Ethnology. Now dated and potentially offensive. A person of this physical type.
kink1865–

U.S. slang (derogatory and offensive) A black person. Now rare.
schvartze1886–

slang (now offensive). In Jewish usage: a black person.
fuzzy-wuzzy1890–

derogatory and offensive. Chiefly in colonial and imperial contexts: a member of a non-white Indigenous people, esp. a black African person (often…
Rastus1895–

U.S. slang (derogatory and offensive). A nickname for: a hypothetically average or typical African American man.
dingy1896–

U.S. slang. (offensive and derogatory). A black person. Cf. sense A.2b, dinge, n.² A.3a. Now somewhat rare.
race man1896–

A black man, esp. one who (strongly) advocates the rights of black people; a supporter of black nationalism; cf. race woman, n.
Zulu1899–

Originally and chiefly U.S. derogatory (now usually considered offensive). A dark-skinned person of sub-Saharan African origin or descent; a black…
possum1900–

slang (usually derogatory). U.S. An African American. possum in the woodpile: = nigger in the woodpile n. at nigger, n. & adj.phrases P.2b.
golliwog1903–

British slang (offensive). A black or dark-skinned person, esp. a person of African origin or descent. Cf. wog, n.¹ 1a.
shine1908–

An abusive term for a black person. Also attributive. U.S. slang.
jigaboo1909–

U.S. slang (depreciative and offensive). A black person; an African American.
jong1912–

offensive. (A patronizing or derogatory term for) a black or Coloured (coloured, adj. A.I.3d) man or boy. Also as a form of address.
smoke1913–

An abusive and offensive term for a black person. U.S. slang.
jazzbo1918–

A black person. Frequently depreciative.
eight ball1919–

U.S. slang (derogatory and offensive). A black person.
boogie1923–

U.S. slang (derogatory and offensive). Now somewhat rare. A black person.
jig1924–

U.S. slang (depreciative and offensive). A black person, an African American.
melanoderm1924–

A member of a dark-skinned people.
monkey chaser1925–

(a) U.S. slang (offensive), a black person from the Caribbean or other tropical region; (b) colloquial a drink of sweetened gin (see quot. 1952).
spade1928–

slang (originally U.S.) depreciative and offensive. As a term of contempt or casual reference among white people: a black person, esp. a black…
jit1931–

U.S. slang (depreciative and offensive). A black person; an African American.
Afro1942–

A (British or American) person of African descent; a black person.
nigra1944–

U.S. colloquial and regional (chiefly southern). Usually offensive. = Negro, n.
tar pot1944–

U.S. slang (derogatory and offensive). A black person; esp. a black child. Cf. tar baby, n. 1a. Now rare.
spook1945–

slang (originally and chiefly U.S.). A derogatory term for a black person.
munt1948–

slang (derogatory and offensive). Among some white people in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, an insulting term for: a black African.
Tom1956–

A familiar shortening of the male forename Thomas. Originally U.S. slang (derogatory). Chiefly in African American usage. A black person regarded…
boot1957–

slang. offensive. A derogatory term for a black person.
soul brother1957–

colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). In African American usage: a black man or boy, esp. as regarded by other black people. Cf. soul sister, n.…
golly1959–

British slang (offensive). A black or dark-skinned person, esp. a person of African origin or descent. Cf. golliwog, n. 2.
nig-nog1959–

British slang (derogatory and offensive). A black or dark-skinned person. Also attributive or as adj.
member1962–

U.S. slang. A black person, esp. one regarded as a compatriot.
pork chop1963–

U.S. slang (derogatory). In black nationalist contexts: a corrupt or untrustworthy black person, esp. a black nationalist who regards African culture…
splib1964–

U.S. slang. Frequently derogatory and offensive, esp. outside African American usage. A black person.
blood1965–

slang (originally and chiefly in African American usage). Also with capital initial. A black person; (occasionally) (with the) black people…
jungle bunny1966–

A derogatory term used by some white people to designate black people, Australian Aborigines, etc.
non-voter1966–

South African colloquial (ironic). In urban (esp. township) use: a black person. Now historical.
moolinyan1967–

U.S. slang (offensive). Among Italian-Americans: a black person. Cf. moolie, n.
boogaloo1972–

U.S. slang (derogatory and offensive). Now rare. A black person. Cf. boogie, n.²
pongo1972–

derogatory and offensive. A black person. rare.
nappy head1973–

U.S. slang (derogatory). A black person.
moolie1988–

U.S. slang (offensive). Among Italian-Americans: = moolinyan, n.
View in Historical Thesaurus

Pronunciation

British English

/spuːk/

spook

U.S. English

/spuk/

spook

Pronunciation keys

Frequency

spook typically occurs about 0.2 times per million words in modern written English.

spook is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency of spook, n., 1800–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on a corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010. The Ngrams data has been cross-checked against frequency measures from other corpora, and re-analysed in order to handle homographs and other ambiguities.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade	Frequency per million words
1800	0.0008
1810	0.0017
1820	0.0024
1830	0.0043
1840	0.007
1850	0.01
1860	0.017
1870	0.031
1880	0.047
1890	0.066
1900	0.089
1910	0.1
1920	0.1
1930	0.1
1940	0.099
1950	0.095
1960	0.1
1970	0.12
1980	0.14
1990	0.17
2000	0.18
2010	0.2

Frequency of spook, n., 2017–2023

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Period	Frequency per million words
Oct.–Dec. 2017	0.27
Jan.–Mar. 2018	0.26
Apr.–June 2018	0.27
July–Sept. 2018	0.25
Oct.–Dec. 2018	0.23
Jan.–Mar. 2019	0.22
Apr.–June 2019	0.23
July–Sept. 2019	0.21
Oct.–Dec. 2019	0.2
Jan.–Mar. 2020	0.19
Apr.–June 2020	0.19
July–Sept. 2020	0.16
Oct.–Dec. 2020	0.15
Jan.–Mar. 2021	0.15
Apr.–June 2021	0.17
July–Sept. 2021	0.16
Oct.–Dec. 2021	0.18
Jan.–Mar. 2022	0.18
Apr.–June 2022	0.2
July–Sept. 2022	0.19
Oct.–Dec. 2022	0.2
Jan.–Mar. 2023	0.2

Compounds & derived words

Sort by

spooky, adj. 1854–

Of, relating to, or characteristic of spirits or the supernatural; frightening, eerie. colloquial.

spook, v. 1871–

To frighten or unnerve; spec. (of a hunter, etc.) to alarm (a wild animal). slang (chiefly North American).

spookical, adj. 1886–

spookism, n. 1886–

spookic, adj. 1887–

spookery, n. 1893–

Spookiness, eeriness; also, something spooky.

spookish, adj. 1893–

spookology, n. 1893–

spookological, adj. 1897–

spookist, n. 1902–

A spiritualist or medium.

Personal account

spooknoun

Quotations

Factsheet

What does the noun spook mean?

Entry status

How common is the noun spook?

How is the noun spook pronounced?

British English

U.S. English

Where does the noun spook come from?

Nearby entries

Etymology

Summary

Meaning & use

Contents

Quotations

Pronunciation

British English

U.S. English

Pronunciation keys

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Consonants

Vowels

Frequency

Frequency of spook, n., 1800–2010

Frequency of spook, n., 2017–2023

Compounds & derived words

Quotations

Factsheet

What does the noun spook mean?

Entry status

How common is the noun spook?

How is the noun spook pronounced?

British English

U.S. English

Where does the noun spook come from?

Nearby entries

Etymology

Summary

Meaning & use

Contents

Quotations

Pronunciation

British English

U.S. English

Pronunciation keys

British English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

U.S. English

Consonants

Vowels

Other symbols

Simple Text Respell

Consonants

Vowels

Frequency

Frequency of spook, n., 1800–2010

Frequency of spook, n., 2017–2023

Compounds & derived words