(British spectre)

source: Dancing Ghost | Monster Girls | Know Your Meme

a ghost.

｟文｠ 幽霊, 亡霊(ghost)

something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence:

怖い物; 不安(材料)

e.g. the specter of nuclear holocaust.

early 17th century: from French spectre or Latin spectrum (see spectrum).