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Where does the word "spook" come from? It comes from Dutch spook, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).
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Where does the word "spook" come from? It comes from Dutch spook, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).
Spook’s story begins in Dutch: spook meant “a ghost.” The Dutch word for a ghost. It reached English by 1800s as spook. Dutch 'spook', ghost; spy slang 'spook' dates from the 1940s. Today, spook means a ghost or specter, or (informally) to frighten someone.
- Stage 1 · Dutch · medieval spook "a ghost", the Dutch word for a ghost.
- Stage 2 · English · 1800s spook "a ghost or specter", Dutch 'spook', ghost; spy slang 'spook' dates from the 1940s.