hellhound

H4E1L1L1H4O1U1N1D2
UK/ˈhɛlhaʊnd/US/ˈhɛlˌ(h)aʊnd/

noun

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

Similar
helldoghound of hellCerberus
OriginMiddle English helle hound →
UncommonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounhellhound (plural hellhounds)

plural hellhounds · alternative hell hound · alternative hell-hound

  1. human sciencesA 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, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 195, column 2
    1 more example

    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 Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, book VII (The Insurrection of Women)

    Synonyms: helldog, hound of hell

  2. figurativelyAn evil or unpleasant person.

    Synonyms: hound of hell

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
helldoghound of hell

nounAn evil or unpleasant person.

Similar
hound of hell

More synonyms by meaning

noun(Greek mythology) the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; son of Typhon

Similar
Cerberus
Broader
mythical monstermythical creature
Also see
cerberusfiendhelldog

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishhelle hound
  2. Englishhellhound

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

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 地獄犬 /地狱犬
  • 地獄犬 /地狱犬 (dìyùquǎn)dog of hell
German Höllenhund
  • Höllenhunddog of hell
Korean 지옥견
  • 지옥견 (jiokgyeon)dog of hell
Spanish cancerbero
  • cancerberodog of hell
Welsh ufferngi, gwyllgi
  • ufferngidog of hell
  • gwyllgidog of hell
Cite this entry
APA

hellhound. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hellhound

MLA

“hellhound.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hellhound. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hellhound,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hellhound.

Source: hellhound on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.