figa

From Old Galician-Portuguese figa (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Vulgar Latin *fīca (“vulva”), from Latin fīcus (“fig tree or fruit”).

(folklore) fig sign, used to ward off evil spirits, the evil eye, etc. When directed to a person is insulting and equivalent to a bras d'honneur


coca

From cocatriz, probably from Old French cocatriz, from Latin calcātrīx.

de baleas, de cocas, de orças et de todoslos outros pescados quea ẽnas agoas

c. 1300, R. Martínez López, editor, General Estoria. Versión gallega del siglo XIV, Oviedo: Archivum, page 134:

of whales, of cockatrices, of orcas and of all the other fishes that are in the waters

que ordenaba e mandaba que andase logo a dita confraría de Santa Oufémea depúus a confraría de Santa María a Madre con sua danza de espadas e çirios e outros jogos algúus, se os tebesen, saluo que o jogo da qoqa que andase aalende das confrarías de San Sebastián e de San Migeel, junto con a confraría dos carniçeyros, por que a dita coqa he escandallosa

1441, X. Ferro Couselo, editor, A vida e a fala dos devanceiros. Escolma de documentos en galego dos séculos XIII ao XVI, Vigo: Galaxia, page 145:

they ordered and commanded that the guild of Saint Euphemia be the firt [in the parade], then the guild of Saint Mary Mother, with its sword dance and candles and other amusements, if they have any, with the exception of the game of the cockatrice, which should go after the guilds of Saint Sebastian and Saint Michael, with the butcher's guild, because said cockatrice is scandalous

(mythology, folklore) cockatrice, in Galician folklore a water creature


forno

From Old Galician-Portuguese forno, from Latin furnus.


xa

From and older *jãa, from Latin Diāna. Cognate with Asturian xana, Old French gene, Romanian zână.

un térmeno medio entre os trasnos e as almas en pena; pero que participaban un pouco máis desta última condición, sólo que eran moi pacífecas, pois nunca se soubo que se metesen con nadie non metendose primeiro con elas. A estas pantasmas chamabanlle xás; abundaban como as moscas no mes da Agosto, e eran pola súa bondá, pouco temidas dos labregos.

1886, M. Nunez González, O muíño dos tíos Mariquiñas:

... a middle term in between elves and banshees, but a little closer to the latter ones and more peaceful, since they never messed with nobody if not disturbed first. These ghosts were called xas; they abounded as flies in August, and, because of they good temper, they were little feared by the peasants.


sombra

sombras (plural)
sóma (alternative literary proscribed)
sôma (alternative literary proscribed)

From Old Galician-Portuguese soonbra, perhaps from Latin sub (“under”) + umbra (“shadow”).


encanto

(folklore) apparition; otherworldly entity


tardo

From the same origin that trasno (“goblin”).

(folklore) nightmare (goblin who plagues people while they slept and cause a feeling of suffocation)


serpe

Attested since circa 1300. From Old Galician-Portuguese, from Vulgar Latin serpes, from Latin serpēns. Cognate with Portuguese serpe, Spanish sierpe.


coroa

From Old Galician-Portuguese corõa (“crown”) (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Latin corōna, from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “garland, wreath”).

der

1252, J.I. Fernández de Viana & al. (eds.), "El Tumbo de Caaveiro. 1ª Parte. | 2ª Parte", Cátedra (Revista eumesa de estudios), 4, page 353

as it departs from the crown of Castro [Castle/Hill fort] Reyriz, as it goes right into the neck of Castro Mao

commo departe per la coroa de Castro Reyriz, e commo se vay a dereito ao pescoço de Castro Mao

(toponymy, archaeology) hill-fort; ringfort; locally, a walled Iron Age fort


pezoña

pezoñas (plural)
peçonha (alternative)
pezoia (alternative)
pozoña (alternative)

From Old Galician-Portuguese peçonna, ponçonna, poçõya (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Vulgar Latin *potionea, from Latin pōtio, pōtione-. Compare Portuguese peçonha, Spanish ponzoña, cf. also French poison.

inh

(folklore) skin sickness caused by venomous animals


celtismo

O CELTISMO EN GALICIA CORROBORADO POLA ARQUEOLOXÍA

O rego da cultura in January-March, 1983, Grial, Galaxia, page 123

CELTISM IN GALICIA CORROBORATED BY ARCHAEOLOGY

(anthropology, archaeology) the study of Celtic culture


coutar

gl-verb

coutar (first-person singular present couto, first-person singular preterite coutei, past participle coutado)

couto (first-person present singular)
coutei (first-person preterite singular)
coutado (participle past)
coutar (impersonal infinitive)
coutar (first-person infinitive singular)
coutares (infinitive second-person singular)
coutar (infinitive personal singular)
coutarmos (first-person infinitive plural)
coutardes (infinitive plural second-person)
coutaren (infinitive personal plural)
coutando (gerund)
coutado (masculine participle past singular)
coutado (first-person masculine participle past singular)
coutado (masculine participle past second-person singular)
coutados (masculine participle past plural)
coutados (first-person masculine participle past plural second-person)
coutada (feminine participle past singular)
coutada (feminine first-person participle past singular)
coutada (feminine participle past second-person singular)
coutadas (feminine participle past plural)
coutadas (feminine first-person participle past plural second-person)
couto (first-person indicative present singular)
coutas (indicative present second-person singular)
couta (indicative present singular)
coutamos (first-person indicative plural present)
coutades (indicative plural present second-person)
coutan (indicative plural present)
coutaba (first-person imperfect indicative singular)
coutabas (imperfect indicative second-person singular)
coutaba (imperfect indicative singular)
coutabamos (first-person imperfect indicative plural)
coutabades (imperfect indicative plural second-person)
coutaban (imperfect indicative plural)
coutei (first-person indicative preterite singular)
coutaches (indicative preterite second-person singular)
coutou (indicative preterite singular)
coutamos (first-person indicative plural preterite)
coutastes (indicative plural preterite second-person)
coutaron (indicative plural preterite)
coutara (first-person indicative pluperfect singular)
coutaras (indicative pluperfect second-person singular)
coutara (indicative pluperfect singular)
coutaramos (first-person indicative pluperfect plural)
coutarades (indicative pluperfect plural second-person)
coutaran (indicative pluperfect plural)
coutarei (first-person future indicative singular)
coutarás (future indicative second-person singular)
coutará (future indicative singular)
coutaremos (first-person future indicative plural)
coutaredes (future indicative plural second-person)
coutarán (future indicative plural)
coutaría (conditional first-person singular)
coutarías (conditional second-person singular)
coutaría (conditional singular)
coutariamos (conditional first-person plural)
coutariades (conditional plural second-person)
coutarían (conditional plural)
coute (first-person present singular subjunctive)
coutes (present second-person singular subjunctive)
coute (present singular subjunctive)
coutemos (first-person plural present subjunctive)
coutedes (plural present second-person subjunctive)
couten (plural present subjunctive)
coutase (first-person imperfect singular subjunctive)
coutases (imperfect second-person singular subjunctive)
coutase (imperfect singular subjunctive)
coutásemos (first-person imperfect plural subjunctive)
coutásedes (imperfect plural second-person subjunctive)
coutasen (imperfect plural subjunctive)
coutar (first-person future singular subjunctive)
coutares (future second-person singular subjunctive)
coutar (future singular subjunctive)
coutarmos (first-person future plural subjunctive)
coutardes (future plural second-person subjunctive)
coutaren (future plural subjunctive)
couta (imperative second-person singular)
coute (imperative singular)
coutemos (first-person imperative plural)
coutade (imperative plural second-person)
couten (imperative plural)
non coutes (imperative negative second-person singular)
non coute (imperative negative singular)
non coutemos (first-person imperative negative plural)
non coutedes (imperative negative plural second-person)
non couten (imperative negative plural)
coutar (impersonal infinitive)
coutar (first-person infinitive singular)
coutares (infinitive second-person singular)
coutar (infinitive singular third-person)
coutarmos (first-person infinitive plural)
coutardes (infinitive plural second-person)
coutarem (infinitive plural third-person)
coutando (gerund)
coutado (first-person masculine participle past singular third-person)
coutado (masculine participle past second-person singular)
coutados (masculine participle past plural)
coutada (feminine first-person participle past singular third-person)
coutada (feminine participle past second-person singular)
coutadas (feminine participle past plural)
couto (first-person indicative present singular)
coutas (indicative present second-person singular)
couta (indicative present singular third-person)
coutamos (first-person indicative plural present)
coutades (indicative plural present second-person)
coutais (indicative plural present second-person)
coutam (indicative plural present third-person)
coutava (first-person imperfect indicative singular)
coutavas (imperfect indicative second-person singular)
coutava (imperfect indicative singular third-person)
coutávamos (first-person imperfect indicative plural)
coutávades (imperfect indicative plural second-person)
coutáveis (imperfect indicative plural second-person)
coutávais (imperfect indicative plural second-person)
coutavam (imperfect indicative plural third-person)
coutei (first-person indicative preterite singular)
coutaste (indicative preterite second-person singular)
coutache (indicative preterite second-person singular)
coutou (indicative preterite singular third-person)
coutamos (first-person indicative plural preterite)
coutastes (indicative plural preterite second-person)
coutárom (indicative plural preterite third-person)
coutaram (indicative plural preterite third-person)
coutara (first-person indicative pluperfect singular)
coutaras (indicative pluperfect second-person singular)
coutara (indicative pluperfect singular third-person)
coutáramos (first-person indicative pluperfect plural)
coutárades (indicative pluperfect plural second-person)
coutáreis (indicative pluperfect plural second-person)
coutárais (indicative pluperfect plural second-person)
coutaram (indicative pluperfect plural third-person)
coutarei (first-person future indicative singular)
coutarás (future indicative second-person singular)
coutará (future indicative singular third-person)
coutaremos (first-person future indicative plural)
coutaredes (future indicative plural second-person)
coutareis (future indicative plural second-person)
coutarám (future indicative plural third-person)
coutarão (future indicative plural third-person)
coutaria (conditional first-person singular)
coutarias (conditional second-person singular)
coutaria (conditional singular third-person)
coutaríamos (conditional first-person plural)
coutaríades (conditional plural second-person)
coutaríeis (conditional plural second-person)
coutaríais (conditional plural second-person)
coutariam (conditional plural third-person)
coute (first-person present singular subjunctive)
coutes (present second-person singular subjunctive)
coute (present singular subjunctive third-person)
coutemos (first-person plural present subjunctive)
coutedes (plural present second-person subjunctive)
couteis (plural present second-person subjunctive)
coutem (plural present subjunctive third-person)
coutasse (first-person imperfect singular subjunctive)
coutasses (imperfect second-person singular subjunctive)
coutasse (imperfect singular subjunctive third-person)
coutássemos (first-person imperfect plural subjunctive)
coutássedes (imperfect plural second-person subjunctive)
coutásseis (imperfect plural second-person subjunctive)
coutassem (imperfect plural subjunctive third-person)
coutar (first-person future singular subjunctive)
coutares (future second-person singular subjunctive)
coutar (future singular subjunctive third-person)
coutarmos (first-person future plural subjunctive)
coutardes (future plural second-person subjunctive)
coutarem (future plural subjunctive third-person)
couta (imperative second-person singular)
coute (imperative singular third-person)
coutemos (first-person imperative plural)
coutade (imperative plural second-person)
coutai (imperative plural second-person)
coutem (imperative plural third-person)
nom coutes (imperative negative second-person singular)
nom coute (imperative negative singular third-person)
nom coutemos (first-person imperative negative plural)
nom coutedes (imperative negative plural second-person)
nom couteis (imperative negative plural second-person)
nom coutem (imperative negative plural third-person)

(folklore) to cure with traditional medicine and spells


escoler

From Old French escoler, from Latin scholaris, with the semantic evolution: "having knowledge" > "practitioner" > "having supernatural powers".

os demos tamén berraban chamando por escoleres e por meigas de máis fama qu'os arrigasen da Cruña e os lovasen para Francia

1846, anonymous author, Carta de Cristobo a seu tío don Alifonso de Santiago:

also the demons were shouting, calling for more famous sorcerers and witches who could uproot them from a Coruña and take them to France

(folklore) supernatural being who causes storms and controls the weather


moura

(folklore) fairy, bean sí; otherworldly being associated with water and prehistoric ruins who sometimes takes the form of a woman of long blonde hair and extraordinary beauty, while other times is a woman of extraordinary strength, capable of transporting boulders on her head, and who usually carries a distaff


castrexo

gl-adj

castrexo (feminine castrexa, masculine plural castrexos, feminine plural castrexas)

castrexa (feminine)
castrexos (masculine plural)
castrexas (feminine plural)

1998, José Manuel Vázquez Varela, Carmen Fernández Casanova (coordinator), Hortensia Román González (translator), Historia da pesca en Galicia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, page 25

The castrexo midden of Cantodorxo in the O Grove peninsula, in the S.W. corner of the Arousa ria is located next to the sea to the N. and W. of the Punta de Cantodorxo promontory.

O depósito castrexo de Cantodorxo na península de O Grove, no extremo S.O. da ría de Arousa está situado á beira do mar na parte N. e O. do promontorio de Punta de Cantodorxo.

(archaeology) of or relating to a prehistoric culture which built fortified cities in northwestern Iberia


lavandeira

lavandeiras (plural)
labrandeira (alternative)

From lavandeiro (“launderer, laundryman”), from Late Latin lavandārius, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”).

(folklore) washerwoman, lavandière, bean-nighe; fairy who washes the clothes of the ones that are going to die


cono de violación

gl-noun

cono de violación m (plural conos de violación)

Presenta unha cámara megalítica cun cono de violación moi marcado, enteiramente cuberto de bouza.

2003, Brigantium, volume 14, O Museo, page 31:

It has a megalithic chamber with a very marked violation cone, entirely covered by heaths.

(archaeology) a hole opened by grave robbers on burial mounds; a pothole (hole opened by grave robbers)


provizo

Attested since 1370. Perhaps from Latin provisus (“foreseen”)

(Iberian folklore, mythology, fantasy) goblin, imp


compaña

From Old Galician-Portuguese companna, from Vulgar Latin *compānia, from Latin compāniō (whence also French compagnon, Italian compagnone), from cum + pānis, a calque from Gothic. Doublet of compañía. Compare Portuguese companha and Spanish compaña.

Non viche Maruxa, nas noites do inverno, andar a estantiga polos matorreiros, a estantiga digo, que chaman os vellos hostea ou compaña que a todos fai medo

1746, Martín Sarmiento, Coloquio de 24 gallegos rústicos, page 106:

Haven't you see, Maruxa, in the winter nights, the Estantiga passing by the woods? The Estantiga, I say, the one the old ones call the Host or Company, which frightens everyone

(mythology, folklore) the procession of the death, also known as estantiga, the "ancient troop" (a Christianized form of the Wild Hunt); similar to the sluagh and fairy host of the folklore of Ireland and Scotland


lobishome

lobishomes (plural)
lobisomem (alternative)

11th century (nickname "Lubusome" inside a Latin text). From lubus (“wolf”) + home (“man”), perhaps a calque of Germanic: compare Proto-West Germanic *werawulf. Cognate of Portuguese lobisomem.

nowrap

􂀿<i class="Latn mention" lang="en">dead link</i>􂁀

pelos casares do Outeyro e pela fonte do Lubus ome

1279, X. Ferro Couselo, editor, A vida e a fala dos devanceiros. Escolma de documentos en galego dos séculos XIII ao XVI, Vigo: Galaxia, page 37:

by the houses of Outeiro and by the fountain of the werewolf

Moito eu chorei o domingo a tarde
que veña Lorenzo, que diga a verdade,
que diga a verdade; pero con cautela
túa nai é bruxa, teño medo dela,
teño medo dela porque ela me come,
túa nai é bruxa, tua nai é bruxa,
teu pai lobishome

1946, Antonio Fraguas, “El lobo en las tierras de Cotovad”, in Boletín de la Comisión Provincial de Monumentos Históricos e Artísticos de Ourense, volume XV, pages 129-137:

I cried all Sundays' afternoon
lets Lourenzo come and tell the truth
tell the truth, but with precaution
your mother is a witch, I fear her
I fear hear because she eats me
your mother is a witch, your mother is a witch
your father a werewolf


trasno

trasnos (plural)
tardo (alternative)
trasgo (alternative)

Unknown. Perhaps from Latin trānsgredior (“I cross over (fig., the law)”). Cognate of Portuguese trasgo, Asturian trasgu, Spanish trasgo.

der

(Iberian folklore, mythology, fantasy) A mischievous mythological creature, usually domestic and similar to a goblin or brownie, other times more similar to a nightmare, found in the legends of the North and West of the Iberian peninsula


megálito

An international neologism. See megalithic.


estantiga

From hoste (“army”) + antiga (“ancient, old”).

compound

Haven't you see, Maruxa, in the winter nights, the Estantiga passing by the woods? the Estantiga, I say, that the old ones call the Host or Company, that scares everyone

(mythology, folklore) the procession of the death (a Christianized form of the Wild Hunt)


orela

orelas (plural)
aurela (alternative)
ourela (alternative)

First attested in the 13th century. From Latin ōra (“border”) + the diminutive suffix -ela.

(archaeology) popular denomination of the risen perimeter of the local Iron Age hill-forts


sacaúntos

From sacar (“to extract”) + unto (“fat of the abdomen”). Compare Spanish sacamantecas.

(folklore) bogeyman (an evil being used to scare children)


meigallo

meigallos (plural)
meigalho (alternative)

Ora en ti penso disperto, / ora en ti penso durmindo, / e sempre en ti estou pensando / coma si foses feitiço; Seique meigallo me deche / na festa do San Martiño, / amasado cos teus dedos / nunha bola de pantrigo

1863, Rosalía de Castro, Cantares Gallegos:

I think about you while awake, I think about you while sleeping; I'm always thinking about you as if it was witchery; I think that you gave me an enchantment, in the fair of Saint Martin, kneaded with you hands inside a ball of wheat bread

(folklore) evil eye, witchery, spell, bane

Calquer pensara que un meigallo se lle meteu no corpo, ó ver como cambeou de súpeto. Esborrouse da súa boca a sonrisa pracenteira, fuxiu dos ollos o mirar churruscandeiro, velado agora por humedeceres de bágoas

1895, Heraclio Pérez Placer, Contos da Terriña:

Anyone would think that she was under a spell [that a meigallo entered her body] seeing how she changed overnight: the pleasant smile fade from her mouth and the burning looks fled from her eyes, clouded by the wetness of the tears

(folklore) sickness caused by witchery, the dead, demons or spirits


feitizo

Attested since circa 1350 (feytizeo). From Latin factīcius (“artificial”). Cognate with Portuguese feitiço, Asturian fechizu and Spanish hechizo.

c. 1350, Kelvin M. Parker (ed.), Historia Troyana. Santiago: Instituto "Padre Sarmiento", page 16

this king had a daughter named Medea, and this princess Medea was very knowledgeable in the art of magic and in every enchantment, and in charms of herbs and of other things

este rrey avia hũa filla a que chamauã Medea et esta Jnfanta Medea foy moy sabea en arte magica et de todos los encantamẽtos, et de feytizeos de ervas et de outras cousas

Meigas, feitizos e bruxas
que persigue a Inquisicion,
sin mascara, socaliñas
de cregos e frades son.
Chamanlles bruxas à ás vellas
por ter cara de carton;
pero solamente hay meygas
en donde hay Inquisicion.
As femias da nosa especie
de certa constitucion
fan visaxes, e son tolas,
pero feitizeiras non.

1813, Manuel Pardo de Andrade, Rogos dun escolar gallego:

Witches, spells and hexes,
who are prosecuted by the Inquisition,
maskless, hoaxes
of priests and friars are.
They call hex an old lady
because her face is made of cardboard;
but there are witches
just where it is Inquisition.
Females of our species,
of certain constitution,
make gestures, and are mad,
but sorceresses they are not.

Ora en ti penso disperto,
ora en ti penso durmindo,
e sempre en ti estou pensando
coma si foses feitiço

Now I think about you awake,
now I think about yow while asleep,
I'm always thinking about you
as if you were a spell


papón

papóns (plural)
papom (alternative)
papão (alternative)

(Iberian folklore, mythology, fantasy) ogre; bogeyman


aturuxar

gl-verb

aturuxar (first-person singular present aturuxo, first-person singular preterite aturuxei, past participle aturuxado)

aturuxo (first-person present singular)
aturuxei (first-person preterite singular)
aturuxado (participle past)
aturuxar (impersonal infinitive)
aturuxar (first-person infinitive singular)
aturuxares (infinitive second-person singular)
aturuxar (infinitive personal singular)
aturuxarmos (first-person infinitive plural)
aturuxardes (infinitive plural second-person)
aturuxaren (infinitive personal plural)
aturuxando (gerund)
aturuxado (masculine participle past singular)
aturuxado (first-person masculine participle past singular)
aturuxado (masculine participle past second-person singular)
aturuxados (masculine participle past plural)
aturuxados (first-person masculine participle past plural second-person)
aturuxada (feminine participle past singular)
aturuxada (feminine first-person participle past singular)
aturuxada (feminine participle past second-person singular)
aturuxadas (feminine participle past plural)
aturuxadas (feminine first-person participle past plural second-person)
aturuxo (first-person indicative present singular)
aturuxas (indicative present second-person singular)
aturuxa (indicative present singular)
aturuxamos (first-person indicative plural present)
aturuxades (indicative plural present second-person)
aturuxan (indicative plural present)
aturuxaba (first-person imperfect indicative singular)
aturuxabas (imperfect indicative second-person singular)
aturuxaba (imperfect indicative singular)
aturuxabamos (first-person imperfect indicative plural)
aturuxabades (imperfect indicative plural second-person)
aturuxaban (imperfect indicative plural)
aturuxei (first-person indicative preterite singular)
aturuxaches (indicative preterite second-person singular)
aturuxou (indicative preterite singular)
aturuxamos (first-person indicative plural preterite)
aturuxastes (indicative plural preterite second-person)
aturuxaron (indicative plural preterite)
aturuxara (first-person indicative pluperfect singular)
aturuxaras (indicative pluperfect second-person singular)
aturuxara (indicative pluperfect singular)
aturuxaramos (first-person indicative pluperfect plural)
aturuxarades (indicative pluperfect plural second-person)
aturuxaran (indicative pluperfect plural)
aturuxarei (first-person future indicative singular)
aturuxarás (future indicative second-person singular)
aturuxará (future indicative singular)
aturuxaremos (first-person future indicative plural)
aturuxaredes (future indicative plural second-person)
aturuxarán (future indicative plural)
aturuxaría (conditional first-person singular)
aturuxarías (conditional second-person singular)
aturuxaría (conditional singular)
aturuxariamos (conditional first-person plural)
aturuxariades (conditional plural second-person)
aturuxarían (conditional plural)
aturuxe (first-person present singular subjunctive)
aturuxes (present second-person singular subjunctive)
aturuxe (present singular subjunctive)
aturuxemos (first-person plural present subjunctive)
aturuxedes (plural present second-person subjunctive)
aturuxen (plural present subjunctive)
aturuxase (first-person imperfect singular subjunctive)
aturuxases (imperfect second-person singular subjunctive)
aturuxase (imperfect singular subjunctive)
aturuxásemos (first-person imperfect plural subjunctive)
aturuxásedes (imperfect plural second-person subjunctive)
aturuxasen (imperfect plural subjunctive)
aturuxar (first-person future singular subjunctive)
aturuxares (future second-person singular subjunctive)
aturuxar (future singular subjunctive)
aturuxarmos (first-person future plural subjunctive)
aturuxardes (future plural second-person subjunctive)
aturuxaren (future plural subjunctive)
aturuxa (imperative second-person singular)
aturuxe (imperative singular)
aturuxemos (first-person imperative plural)
aturuxade (imperative plural second-person)
aturuxen (imperative plural)
non aturuxes (imperative negative second-person singular)
non aturuxe (imperative negative singular)
non aturuxemos (first-person imperative negative plural)
non aturuxedes (imperative negative plural second-person)
non aturuxen (imperative negative plural)
atrouxar (alternative)
atruxar (alternative)
aturrar (alternative)
aturular (alternative)
aturutar (alternative)
aturujar (alternative)
atrujar (alternative)

Os mozos aturuxan ao son da gaita.

The young men howl at the sound of the bagpipe

Aturutade rapaces;
E decide a o sacristan,
Que faga vóar as campanas
E anoncie a festividade.

Howl, youngsters;
and tell the sacristan
to make the bells fly
and announce the festivity.

(folklore, intransitive) to make a traditional and festive long guttural howling shout


abelurio

abelurios (plural)
abelúrio (alternative)

(Iberian folklore, mythology, fantasy) a mischievous mythological creature, similar to a goblin, found in the legends of the Northwest of the Iberian peninsula


pezoia

pezoias (plural)
pezoña (alternative)
pozoña (alternative)

From Old Galician-Portuguese poçõya (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Vulgar Latin *potionea, from Latin pōtio, pōtione-. Compare Portuguese peçonha, Spanish ponzoña, cf. also French poison.

(folklore) skin sickness caused by a poisonous animal


alicornio

alicornios (plural)
alicorne (alternative)
alicorno (alternative)
licornio (alternative)

(folklore) alicorn: horn of deer or fang of boar considered magical

(folklore) stag beetle mandibles, considered magical


mouramia

mouramias (plural)
mourama (alternative)

From mouro (“Moor”) + -amia. Compare Portuguese mourama.


sugota

Corréro-no as meigas; Chuchouno a sugota

1886, Antonio María de la Iglesia, El Idioma Gallego:

(folklore, mythology) hag; a she-vampire


mal cativo

Attested since the 18th century. From mal (“sickness”) cativo (“little”), "[the] little sickness"

(folklore) a nervous sickness, thought to be caused by evil eye or other malediction


tangaraño

tangaraños (plural)
engaraño (alternative)
tarangaño (alternative)
tangaranho (alternative)

[t̪ɑŋ.ɡɑˈɾa.ɲʊ]

[t̪ɑŋ.ɡɑˈɾa.ɲʊ]

[t̪ɑŋ.ħɑˈɾa.ɲʊ]

Attested since the 19th century. Unknown.

(folklore) demon, goblin or malediction held responsible of such sickness


matanza do porco

gl-noun

matanza do porco f (plural matanzas do porco)

From matanza (“killing”) do (“of the”) porco (“pig”).

(folklore) annual activity and celebration held in autumn consisting both in the killing of pigs and the preparation and preservation of their meat for the winter; usually it concludes with a feast


abellón

abellóns (plural)
abelhom (alternative)
abelhão (alternative)

From abella (“bee”) + -ón, augmentative suffix. Compare Portuguese abelhão.

(folklore) ancient funerary practice where relatives and neighbours of the deceased would reunite around his or her deathbed, take hands and buzz around, allegedly to guide the deceased's soul


mal bravo

(folklore, medicine) folk name for the diphtheria, anthrax and other sickness


colleitizo

(folklore, medicine) an infectious sickness caused by the passage of vermin


olláparo

olláparos (plural)
olháparo (alternative)

(folklore, mythology) kind of cyclops who has an eye in the front of the head and another one in the back


peeira

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese peeira (attested since circa 1409). From Latin pedaria.

inh+

(folklore, mythology) person, usually a woman, who acts as a wolf keeper. If a woman had seven daughters and no sons, the seventh one would became one.