The Witches by Roald Dahl, (paperback)

In The Witches by Roald Dahl, the witches are described as terrifying, cunning, and very different from ordinary witches in fairy tales. Unlike the traditional image of witches with black hats and broomsticks, Dahl’s witches look like ordinary women, which makes them more dangerous because they can easily blend in with society. However, they have some telltale signs that reveal their true nature:

1. Bald Heads: Witches are completely bald, so they always wear wigs, which cause them to itch.

2. Clawed Hands: Instead of regular fingernails, they have claws, so they wear gloves to hide them.

3. Blue Spit: Their spit is a blueish tint.

4. No Toes: Witches have no toes, and they wear sensible shoes to cover their square, toeless feet.

5. Sharp Nostrils: They have an extraordinary sense of smell, especially for children, whom they describe as smelling like "dogs' droppings."

Dahl portrays them as ruthless and vile, with a singular mission: to eliminate all children, whom they loathe above all else. The Grand High Witch, their leader, is the most fearsome of all, with a hideous appearance she conceals behind a mask.