hellhound

See also: hell-hound and hell hound

English

Alternative forms

• hell hound, hell-hound

Etymology

From Middle English helle hound; equivalent to hell +‎ hound.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hɛl.haʊnd/

Noun

hellhound (plural hellhounds)

1. (mythology) A demonic dog of hell, typically of unnatural size, strength or speed, with black fur, glowing eyes, and ghostly or phantom characteristics.

   Synonym: hound of hell

   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 195, column 2:

     From forth the kennell of thy wombe hath crept / A Hell-hound that doth hunt vs all to death:

   • 1837, Thomas Carlyle, chapter X, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book VII (The Insurrection of Women):

     Barricading serves not: fly fast, ye Bodyguards; rabid Insurrection, like the hellhound Chase, uproaring at your heels!

2. (figurative) An evil or otherwise unpleasant person.

   Synonym: hound of hell

Translations

dog of hell

• German: Höllenhund m
• Spanish: cancerbero (es) m

See also

• Cerberus
• Orthrus

Further reading

• hellhound on Wikipedia.Wikipedia