In Northern English folklore, the Barghest or Barguest is a mythical monstrous black dog with large teeth and claws,[1] though in other cases the name can refer to a ghost or household elf, especially in Northumberland and Durham, such as the Cauld Lad of Hylton.
"Ghost" in Northern England was pronounced "guest", and the origin is thought to be of the combination burh-ghest, "town-ghost".
It recounts the tale of a man who ventures forth "to the horrid gill of the limestone hill" in order to summon and confront the Barghest in an act of ritual magic.
[2] Besides taking the form of a large black dog with fiery eyes, it may also become invisible and walk about with the sound of rattling chains.
It may also foretell the death of an individual by laying across the threshold of his or her house, and like the vampire the Barghest is unable to cross rivers.