empusa
/ɛmˈp(j)uːzə/noun
1In classical mythology: a female demon or evil spirit associated with the goddess Hecate, supposed to eat humans and to be capable of appearing in different forms. Also more generally: an evil spirit, a hobgoblin; a phantom.
2 Biology (In form Empusa) a genus of fungi which grow within the bodies of flies and other insects, causing deformity and death; (also empusa) a fungus of this genus. See also compounds 1. Now rare.
- The genus is now usually called Entomophthora (family Entomophthoraceae, order Entomophthorales)..
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Robert Harrison (d. c1585), Brownist and writer. From post-classical Latin Empusa from ancient Greek Ἔμπουσα kind of hobgoblin, assuming various shapes, said to be sent by Hecate, of unknown origin; partly via Middle French, French empuse.
- battle fatigue
- battlefield
- battlefront
- battleground
- battleground state
- battle group
- battle it out
- battle jacket
- battlement
- battlemented
- Battle of Bosworth
- battler
- battle royal
- battle-scarred
- battleship
- battleship grey
- battle station
- battle stations
- battlewagon
- battle wagon
- battue
- batty
- batty boy
- batty man
- batty rider