Afreet
/ˈæf.riːt/noun
A powerful evil jinn or demon in Arabic folklore.
Did you know?The English word entered through Arabic folklore, where an ifrīt was a dangerous class of jinn, and Western translators often treated it as a literal demon from the start.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic folklore
Arabic
ʿifrīt
“A powerful, rebellious jinn or demon-like spirit”
19th Century
English
afreet
“A demon or evil spirit in stories translated from Arabic”
Modern English
English
afreet
“A powerful evil spirit or demon in Arabic-inspired fiction”
Ancient Semitic
Semitic
ʿ-f-r
“A root associated with dust, being dusty, or possibly rebelliousness in later folk interpretation”