bugger

¹ American  

[buhg-er, boog-] / ˈbʌg ər, ˈbʊg- /

noun

1. Informal. a fellow or lad (used affectionately or abusively).

   a cute little bugger.

2. Informal. any object or thing.

3. Often Vulgar. a sodomite.

4. Chiefly British Slang.

   1. a despicable or contemptible person, especially a man.

   2. an annoying or troublesome thing, situation, etc.

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verb (used with object)

1. Often Vulgar. to sodomize.

2. Slang. damn.

   Bugger the cost—I want the best.

3. Chiefly British Slang. to trick, deceive, or take advantage of.

verb phrase

1. bugger off to depart; bug off.

2. bugger up to ruin; spoil; botch.

bugger ² American  

[buhg-er] / ˈbʌg ər /

1. a person who installs a hidden listening device.

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bugger British  

/ ˈbʌɡə /

noun

1. a person who practises buggery

2. slang a person or thing considered to be contemptible, unpleasant, or difficult

3. slang a humorous or affectionate term for a man or child

   a silly old bugger

   a friendly little bugger

4. slang nothing

5. slang to fool around and waste time

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verb

1. to practise buggery (with)

2. slang (tr) to ruin, complicate, or frustrate

3. slang to tire; weary

   he was absolutely buggered

interjection

1. slang an exclamation of annoyance or disappointment

Usage

More context on bugger Bugger seems like a completely harmless word, right? Wrong. While often used informally as an insult (like "jerk") or to refer to any ole whachamacallit, bugger has also been used as a more offensive vulgar term for "sodomy."Bugger ultimately originates from the Medieval Latin Bulgarus, literally "Bulgarian." During the Middle Ages, the Balkans (the peninsula where Bulgaria is located) were linked to heretical sects, such as a group known as the Bogomils, who were said to engage in deviant sexual practices. We can see that the history of bugger has both historical layers of xenophobia and homophobia. Keep context in mind when using this word or else someone might tell you to bugger off. If knowing the history of bugger has got you reflecting on your word choices, this slideshow, "These Common Words Have Offensive Histories," discusses many other words whose place in your vocab you may want to reconsider. 

Etymology

Origin of bugger¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bougre, from Anglo-French bugre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus “heretic,” literally, “Bulgarian,” by association of the Balkans with heretical sects such as the Bogomils ( def. ) and their alleged deviant sexual practices; bugger ¹ def. 1 perhaps by reanalysis as bug ¹ or bug ² + -er ¹ ( cf. booger)

Origin of bugger²

First recorded in 1965–70; bug ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

None reached concentrations considered harmful to human health or the environment, Bugger said.

From Reuters • Mar. 28, 2014

Geopolitically, the world of Ender’s Game and the subsequent novels is pretty stable: After the first Bugger invasion, everything was pretty much locked in place, with the major powers being China, America and Russia.

From Forbes • Jul. 31, 2013

A good ol' F-4 frog pattern Flatfish was another very good producer, and the triploid and other rainbow hit a small Wooly Bugger fly with a Wiggle Fin Action Disk on the front of it.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2012

One of my favorite ways to catch Fish Lake trout is to pull a Wooly Bugger fly.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2012

The Li'l Bugger, for instance, costs Metromedia $150, but will generate $600 in income from rentals and broadcast charges over its six-year life.

From Time Magazine Archive