night-mare
Middle English
Alternative forms
- nytmare, niȝt-mare, niȝthe-mare
Etymology
From Old English *nihtmare, equivalent to nighte + mare.
Noun
night-mare (plural night-mares)
- An evil spirit attacking men or horses at night.
Descendants
- English: nightmare
- Scots: nichtmare, nichtmeer
References
- “night-mare” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.