espantabrujas

Spanish

Examples of "espantabrujas" in Biescas, Spain.

Etymology

Verb-object compound, composed of espanta (“to scare”) +‎ brujas (“witches”). Literally, “scarewitches” or "witch scarer."

Noun

espantabrujas f (plural espantabrujas)

1. a rough-sculpted figure placed upon a chimney, usually spherically-shaped, which supposedly keeps away witches and hexes from the house, being characteristic of the traditional buildings of the Aragonese Pyrenees.

   Synonyms: bichelo, capiscol

Further reading

• “espantabrujas”, in Diccionario de Bienes Culturales‎^[1], Ministry of Culture (Spain), 2024 September 16 (last accessed), archived from the original on 2024-09-16