An ugly old woman, especially one thought to be a witch; or in folklore, a supernatural creature that visits people at night.
From Old English 'hægtes' and Old Norse 'hæggia' meaning 'to hag or harass'; originally described a female spirit or demon that attacked people in their sleep; later applied to ugly old women.
The 'hag' folklore in cultures worldwide—from Old English to Japanese to Native American traditions—might explain sleep paralysis and nightmares: people waking up terrified with a sense of a presence probably experienced the same thing universally.
Originally a neutral term for an older woman, 'hag' became weaponized in medieval and early modern Europe as a gendered slur targeting women—especially older, independent, or outspoken women—during witch hunts. The term conflated age, female power, and danger, serving to control women's autonomy.
Avoid using 'hag' as a descriptor for women. If discussing historical usage or witch hunt language, use with critical context acknowledging its misogynistic origin.
["older woman","woman","elder"]
Millions of women were executed based partly on gendered language like 'hag' that pathologized female independence, knowledge, and aging.
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