A goblin which appeared in the form of a big black dog and which meant BIG TROUBLE A-COMIN'.
The barghest was given many particular names locally in Britain, including the Demon of Tidworth, the Black Dog of Winchester and the Padfoot of Wakefield.
See also bugbear, bugaboo, barghaist, barguest, barn-ghaist, skriker.
Bar"ghest` (?), n. [Perh. G. berg mountain + geist demon, or bar a bear + geist.]
A goblin, in the shape of a large dog, portending misfortune.
© Webster 1913.
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