An evil spirit or phantom that robs graves and feeds on corpses; a person morbidly interested in death or disaster.
From Arabic ghūl, a desert demon in Arabian folklore that was said to lure travelers to their death and feed on human flesh. The word entered English in the 18th century through translations of Arabic tales, particularly 'The Arabian Nights.' It gained popularity in Gothic literature and horror stories, expanding from its original meaning of a specific type of demon to any evil spirit.
This creepy creature comes straight from ancient Arabian desert folklore about shape-shifting demons that ate people! When European readers discovered 'The Arabian Nights' in the 1700s, they were so fascinated by this terrifying monster that 'ghoul' became English's go-to word for any flesh-eating evil spirit.
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