body snatcher
The term "body snatcher" has historical roots in illegal activities involving the theft of corpses, as well as appearances in horror and science fiction genres.
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Definition
C1History
(illegal, historical)A person who illegally exhumes and steals corpses from graves, often to sell them for medical research or dissection.
Example
- In the 19th century, body snatchers supplied medical schools with cadavers for anatomical study.
B2Fiction
(horror, science fiction)A fictional being that takes over or possesses the bodies of living individuals.
Example
- The movie featured body snatchers who could control their victims' actions.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "body snatcher":