demon1
n.
- an evil spirit or devil.
▸
often humorous an evil or destructive person or thing:
you little demon.
-
[as modifier]
denoting a person skilful in a specified role:
a demon cook.
- another term for daemon1.
- variant spelling of daemon2.
Etymology
ME: from med. L., from L. daemon (or its dimin. daemonium), from Gk daimōn ‘deity, genius’.
demon2
n.
Austral./NZ informal a police officer.
Etymology
C19: perh. from Van Diemen's Land, an early name for Tasmania, or based on dee (sl. term for detective) + man.