plural haints
: the soul of a dead person and especially one that is mischievous or mean
A haint is a restless ghost who has not left the world, but has remained behind to haunt the living with trickery that is often harmless, but sometimes more sinister in nature.—Katie Carman
African-American folklore contends that haints can take any form at will, from everyday objects to … fantastic creatures …—Lynne Adele
Ever hear the tale of Montrose, the 8-foot tall haint who hung out at a spooky, moss-draped … cemetery in the late 1950s and early 1960s, scaring the daylights out of those who ventured there?—Dwight Dana
Cite this Entry
“Haint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haint. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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