1. Plural of barguest; monstrous or demonic dogs in English folklore, typically depicted as large, black, shaggy creatures that haunt roads and graveyards.
Usage: archaic; folklore; chiefly British

Examples

• Local legends spoke of barguests prowling the Yorkshire moors at night.
• The old villagers warned travelers about encounters with barguests on the dark roads.
• In medieval folklore, barguests were said to be harbingers of death.
• The barguests of English tradition were often described as having glowing eyes and chains.
• Stories of barguests persisted in rural England for centuries.