1. Ghosts or spirits of the dead; supernatural beings believed to haunt a place.
Usage: informal; chiefly Southern U.S. dialect; often used in folklore and ghost stories

Examples

• The old plantation house was said to be full of haints that wandered the halls at night.
• Local children warned each other about the haints in the abandoned cemetery.
• She didn't believe in haints until she heard strange noises in the attic.
• The storyteller spoke of haints and other creatures from Appalachian folklore.
• Some people claim haints protect their homes from intruders.
• He swore he saw haints dancing in the moonlight near the old graveyard.