DictionaryRoot: bogey
English
bogey
a frightening spirit or imagined threat
Forms
- bogey
- bogy — An alternative spelling.
- bogie — Another spelling in some uses.
Origin
An English spirit-name related to other bog- and bug- fear words; the precise formation is uncertain.
Note
An imagined menace can become a figurative standard or obstacle.
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noun
bogey
Something regarded as a source of fear or trouble.
Etymology
Bogey names a frightening imaginary creature, though its deeper origin is uncertain. The word extends that source of fear to a problem or threat that people regard with dread.