Uhaml

The Uhaml (German: das Uhaml with neuter article; German: [ˈuːˌhaml̩]) is a spirit from German folktales. It was known among the former Germans of Bohemia and Silesia, now part of the Czech Republic and Poland respectively, particularly in the former Iglau language island of Bohemia. The Uhaml is an airy sprite, a ghost, or possibly some kind of demonic bird. Nothing is known about its appearance other than it having horse feet.

At night, the Uhaml's call can be heard from the air: "Uhuhu!" People mocking it by imitating its call will be chased by the Uhaml until they are safe from it under the eaves. In the forest, "she" (for the Uhaml is apparently imagined as female in this case only) might also aufhocken, i.e. leap on a passerby's back and let itself be carried, jumping down from "her" victim only upon reaching the forest border.

To ward off the Uhaml's evildoing, three chips of wood and a loaf of bread will be placed in the parlor. The Uhaml will enter the parlor, cut the bread in two halves and take one of them with it.

The name Uhaml can be explained as a Silesian dialectal form of Standard German "unheimlich", meaning "eerie" or "uncanny", or can more likely be connected to the Eurasian eagle-owl, called "Uhu" in German with regard to its call.