snallygaster

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UK/ˈsnɑlɪˌɡɑːstə/US/ˈsnɑliˌɡɑstɚ/

noun

In American folklore, a dragon-like beast said to inhabit central Maryland and neighbouring regions.

OriginPennsylvania German schnelle Geeschter →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounsnallygaster (plural snallygasters)

plural snallygasters · alternative snoligoster

  1. In American folklore, a dragon-like beast said to inhabit central Maryland and neighbouring regions.

Origin

  1. Pennsylvania Germanschnelle Geeschter“quick ghosts”
  2. Englishsnallygaster

Probably a modification of Pennsylvania German schnelle Geeschter (“quick ghosts”).

More words from Pennsylvania German

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

snallygaster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/snallygaster

MLA

“snallygaster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/snallygaster. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “snallygaster,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/snallygaster.

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