ghoul

Etymology

From Persian غول (ğul) from Arabic غُول (ḡūl). Compare French goule, of the same origin.

noun

  1. (mythology, Arabic demonology) A demon said to feed on corpses.
    The other chamber had shown a pack of ghouls and witches over-running the world of our forefathers, but this one brought the horror right into our own daily life!. 1927, H.P. Lovecraft, Pickman's Model
  2. A graverobber.
  3. A person with an undue interest in death and corpses, or more generally in things that are revolting and repulsive.
  4. (derogatory, slang) A person with a callous or uncaring attitude to human life and suffering, particularly when prioritizing economic concerns.

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