Skinwalker

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A legendary figure in indigenous traditions that can change its form between human and various animal species
2. A supernatural being in certain cultural myths that is said to have the ability to shapeshift, often carrying an element of witchcraft
3. A mythical entity found in certain folklore that possesses the ability to transform between human and animal forms, often associated with dark magic or malevolent intentions

Etymology: The word looks like a plain compound of "skin" and "walker", but its meaning comes from Navajo tradition, where a "skinwalker" is a witch who takes on the form of an animal, most often a wolf, coyote or owl, by donning its hide. The English term is a translation-style coinage: the sense of "walking in another's skin" is the heart of the idea, and the compound simply describes that act literally. The two parts are straightforward. "Skin" is the outer covering of an animal or person, and "walker" is an agent noun from "walk," so together they describe someone who walks in a skin that is not their own. English speakers therefore understand the term transparently, even though the underlying belief belongs to a specific cultural tradition.

Synonyms: shapeshifter, witch