Hanty
/ˈhæn.ti/noun
A regional American term for a ghost or supernatural spirit.
Did you know?Hanty is especially associated with African American and Southern folklore, where a “haint” or “hanty” could be a dangerous returning spirit rather than merely a transparent apparition.
Etymological Timeline
13th Century
Old French
hanter
“To frequent, visit, or inhabit; the likely source of English haunt, though the deeper origin is uncertain.”
13th–14th Century
Middle English
haunten
“To visit frequently or be present in a place.”
16th Century
English
haunt
“A place regularly visited, and later a ghostly presence that repeatedly appears.”
18th–19th Century
Southern American English
haint
“A dialectal pronunciation and spelling of haunt, used for a ghost or spirit.”
19th–20th Century
African American English
hanty
“A regional variant of haint, referring to a supernatural spirit or restless dead person.”
Modern English
English
hanty
“A regional folkloric word for a ghost or haunting spirit.”