hellhound

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

Noun

  1. A demonic dog of hell, typically of unnatural size, strength or speed, with black fur, glowing eyes, and ghostly or phantom characteristics.
    • From forth the kennell of thy wombe hath crept / A Hell-hound that doth hunt vs all to death: - c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies,...
    • Barricading serves not: fly fast, ye Bodyguards; rabid Insurrection, like the hellhound Chase, uproaring at your heels! - 1837, Thomas Carlyle, chapter X, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The...

    Synonyms: helldog hound of hell

  2. An evil or unpleasant person.

    Synonyms: hound of hell

Origin

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

Forms

hellhounds hell hound hell-hound

Related

Cerberus Orthrus