bogy

¹

or bogie

[ boh-gee; boog-ee, boo-gee ]

noun

, plural bo·gies.

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 ¹( def 3 ).

bogy

²

[ boh-gee ]

noun

, plural bo·gies.

1. bogie ¹.

bogy

/ ˈbəʊɡɪ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of bogey 1 bogie 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of bogy¹

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

Example Sentences

And I had nothing to eat, and I was so frightened—for she said there was a bogy there—that I nearly died.

From Project Gutenberg

And throughout the trip he continued to regard me as a species of bogy-man, while Ryborg he considered a most reputable traveler.

From Project Gutenberg

Shell fire, speaking generally, is the "Bogy of Battle" to those not accustomed to it.

From Project Gutenberg

But he did the job, and this bogy-man scare of his is the weak cunning of a disordered mind to divert suspicion.

From Project Gutenberg

Syme remembered those wild woes of yesterday as one remembers being afraid of Bogy in childhood.

From Project Gutenberg