boggard

English

Etymology 1

Uncertain, but likely from Lancashire, Yorkshire etc dialectal variants of bug (“goblin; terrifying thing; etc.”), equivalent to bog +‎ -ard.

Alternative forms

• boggart
• buggard, baggard (obsolete)

Noun

boggard (plural boggards)

1. (UK dialectal) A bogey: a ghost, goblin, or other hostile supernatural creature, especially a small local spirit haunting gloomy places or the scenes of violence.
   • 1570, P. Levens, Manipulus Vocabulorum:

     A Boggarde, spectrum.

   • 1768, John Ray, A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs, published 1818, page 123:

     He thinks every bush a boggard, i.e. a bugbear or phantasm.

   • 1855, F.K. Robinson, Glossary of Yorkshire Words, page 17:

     Boggle, Boggart, a fearful object, a hobgoblin.

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

• frayboggard (“scarecrow”)

Etymology 2

bog (“latrine; outhouse”) +‎ -ard

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

• bogard, boggards

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:bathroom