boggard
English
Etymology 1
Of uncertain etymology, but likely from Lancashire, Yorkshire etc dialectal variants of bug (“goblin; terrifying thing; etc.”), equivalent to bog + -ard.[1]
Alternative forms
- boggart, buggard, baggard (obsolete)
Noun
boggard (plural boggards)
- (Britain dialectal) A bogey: a ghost, goblin, or other hostile supernatural creature, especially a small local spirit haunting gloomy places or the scenes of violence.
- 1570, P. Levens, Manipulus Vocabulorum:
- A Boggarde, spectrum.
- 1768 in 1818, John Ray, A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs, page 123:
- He thinks every bush a boggard, i.e. a bugbear or phantasm.
- 1855, F.K. Robinson, Glossary of Yorkshire Words, page 17:
- Boggle, Boggart, a fearful object, a hobgoblin.
-
- (figuratively) A bugbear: any terrifying thing.
- 1575, W. Whittingham, Brieff Discours of the Troubles Begonne at Franckford in Germany A.D. 1554:
- Nor be such buggarddes to the poor, yff they may not beare the bagge alone.
- a. 1599, in 1616, Robert Rollock, Lectures upon the History of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Ch. xiv, page 132:
- Hell is but a boggarde to scarre children.
-
- (obsolete) Any real or imagined thing which prompts a horse to boggle (take fright).
Synonyms
- (hostile supernatural creature): See goblin
Derived terms
- frayboggard (“scarecrow”)
Etymology 2
bog (“latrine; outhouse”) + -ard[2]
Noun
boggard (plural boggards)
- (obsolete) An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.
- 1552, Richard Huloet, Abcedarium Anglico Latinum:
- Siege, jacques, bogard, or draught, latrina.
- 1647, Nathaniel Ward, The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America, page 76:
- He [Satan] thought it wisdome to keep the land [of Ireland] for a Boggards for his unclean spirits.
-
Alternative forms
- bogard, boggards
Synonyms
- See Thesaurus:bathroom
References
- Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "boggard | boggart, n.²" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1887.
- Oxford English Dictionary. "† ˈboggard, n.²"