English
ghast
Ghast comes from Middle English gasten ‘to frighten, terrify’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gasten‘to frighten, terrify’
- Englishtodayghast
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gasten‘to frighten, terrify’
- Englishtodayghast
A compound of gāstan ‘to meditate’ + gǣstan ‘to gast, frighten, afflict, torment’
Proto-Germanic *gaistijaną
Proto-West Germanic *gaistijan
Old English gǣstan ‘to gast, frighten, afflict, torment’
The story
Spelling influenced by ghost.
Linked words
through Middle English gasten ‘to frighten, terrify’
Today it means
verb —
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English gasten / ghast