Middle English word gost comes from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰyis-, and later Proto-Germanic *gaistaz (Mind. Spirit, ghost. Terror, fear.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *ǵʰyis- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *ǵʰisd- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *gaistaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Mind. Spirit, ghost. Terror, fear. |
| gāst | Old English (ang) | |
| gost | Middle English (enm) | A breath, blowing, wind; God's breath, a spiritual wind; the blowing of storm. A spiritual force or insight, a gift of prophecy. A villain, scoundrel; a devil incarnate; a wicked-looking creature. The soul of man, spiritual nature. A spiritual being; angel, devil, spirit; soul of a dead person. The Holy Ghost. |