bogy

¹ American  

[boh-gee, boog-ee, boo-gee] / ˈboʊ gi, ˈbʊg i, ˈbu gi /

Also bogey or bogie

noun

bogies plural

1. a hobgoblin; evil spirit.

2. anything that haunts, frightens, annoys, or harasses.

3. something that functions as a real or imagined barrier that must be overcome, bettered, etc..

   Fear is the major bogy of novice mountain climbers. A speed of 40 knots is a bogy for motorboats.

4. Military. bogey.

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bogy ² American  

[boh-gee] / ˈboʊ gi /

noun

bogies plural

1. bogie.

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bogy British  

/ ˈbəʊɡɪ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of bogey 1 bogie 1

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Etymology

Origin of bogy

1830–40; bog, variant of bug ² (noun) + -y ²

Example Sentences

Lopez-Chacarra overcame a triple bogy on the long par-4 seventh and tied Sargent for the lead with a short birdie on the par-4 15th.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2022

In the 1950s, 3D was wheeled out to upstage television, the industry bogy of that era.

From The Guardian • Jul. 5, 2010

Ironsi proposed to deal with the old bogy of tribal rivalry by demoting Nigeria's four semiautonomous regions to "provinces," and by banning the old regional parties.

From Time Magazine Archive

Within the last few days," said he, "the bogy of another inflation period has again been raised.

From Time Magazine Archive

As usual, the girls crowded round Hollyhock that evening and asked for bogy and ghost stories.

From Hollyhock A Spirit of Mischief by Rainey, W. (William)