frayboggard

See also: fray-boggard

English

Etymology

From fray (“fear, terror”) +‎ boggard (“bugbear, ghost, goblin”).

Noun

frayboggard (plural frayboggards)

1. (obsolete) A scarecrow. [from c. 1530s]
   • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg: Eucharius Cervicornus and J. Soter?], →OCLC, Baruch vj:[70], folio liiij, recto:

     For like as a frayboggarde in a garden off Cucumbers kepeth nothinge, euen ſo are their goddes of wod, of ſyluer ⁊ golde:

Alternative forms

• fray-boggard

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “scarecrow”, in Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved 8 May 2018: “Also fray-boggard (1530s).”