ghoul Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection
    graverobber; body snatcher.
  2. noun an evil spirit or ghost

WordNet

Ghoul noun
Etymology
Per. ghl an imaginary sylvan demon, supposed to devour men and animals: cf. Ar. ghl, F. goule.
Definitions
  1. An imaginary evil being among Eastern nations, which was supposed to feed upon human bodies. Written also ghole . Moore.

Webster 1913