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)

  1. (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.
  2. (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.
  3. (obsolete) Any real or imagined thing which prompts a horse to boggle (take fright).
Synonyms
  • (hostile supernatural creature): See goblin
Derived terms

Etymology 2

bog (latrine; outhouse) + -ard[2]

Noun

boggard (plural boggards)

  1. (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
Synonyms

References

  1. Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "boggard | boggart, n.²" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1887.
  2. Oxford English Dictionary. "† ˈboggard, n.²"
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