voodoo

Definition

Any of a group of related religious practices found chiefly in and around the Caribbean, particularly in Haiti and Louisiana.

Etymology

From Louisiana Creole voudou, from Haitian Creole Vodou, from a West African language, such as Ewe vódũ (“deity, idol”), Fon vòdún (“fetish”) or the Kwa languages vodũ.

Example Sentences

• "You cannot understand Haitian Vodou as it is practised today without first knowing something about the culture from which it sprang, and the ways history has shaped religion, and vice versa."
• "I want a real explanation, not this statistical voodoo."
• "So a reporter of the Boston Herald (U.S.) has 'interviewed' a few local Voodoos. He has seen a dance round a boiling pot, seen some tomfoolery with spiders, and heard a lot of superstitious stories."