bogy

¹ American  

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

Also bogey or bogie

noun

plural

bogies

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

plural

bogies

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

The bogy of recession that had haunted everyone for four years was not completely laid, but it was a vanishing specter.

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

I don't understand your motive, and I'd rather not guess at it; but I'm not a child to be scared by a bogy.

From Nobody by Jacobs, W. L.