rougarou

English

Etymology

From Cajun French rougarou (“werewolf”).

Noun

rougarou (plural rougarous)

1. (folklore) A werewolf or werewolf-like creature said to inhabit swamps in Louisiana (and sometimes French Canadian) folklore.
   • 1961, Maria Leach, God Had a Dog: Folklore of the Dog:

     Like the European werewolf and loup-garou, the French Canadian rougarou also often appears in the form of a dog. Whoever neglects his Easter duties or goes unconfessed for seven years finds himself changed into a rougarou at night.

   • 2016, Heather Graham, Blood on the Bayou: A Cafferty & Quinn Novella, Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated, →ISBN:

     “I told you, I'm not the rougarou. And if I say anything, the rougarou will kill me. I may be old, but I don't want to go that way.” “Selena, I'm going to hurt you worse than any rougarou.”

   • 2016, Jonathan Maberry, The Orphan Army, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 78:

     “The rougarou—him's a big, bad wolf.” “Bad?” asked Lizabeth. “What do you mean?”

Related terms

• loogaroo

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʁu.ɡa.ʁu/

Noun

rougarou m (plural rougarous)

1. (Louisiana, Cajun) Alternative spelling of loup-garou (“werewolf”)