Spookery
/ˈspuːkəri/noun
The practice, lore, or supposed phenomena associated with ghosts and supernatural haunting.
Did you know?English spook ultimately comes from Dutch spook, meaning “ghost” or “specter,” and was initially associated with American regional speech before becoming widely recognizable through popular culture.
Etymological Timeline
Middle Dutch
Middle Dutch
spooc
“A ghost, apparition, or frightening specter”
16th–17th Century
Dutch
spook
“A ghost or supernatural apparition”
19th Century
American English
spook
“A ghost; later also a spy or mysterious person”
19th–20th Century
English
spookery
“Ghost lore, haunting, or supernatural practices”
Modern English
English
spookery
“The activity or lore of ghosts and alleged supernatural phenomena”