Where does “bogeyman” come from?
bogeyman (English) comes from English bogey, from Middle English bugge, from Proto-Germanic bugja-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- — to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
bogeyman (English): A menacing, ghost-like monster in children's...
Definitions
- A menacing, ghost-like monster in children's...
Ancestry of “bogeyman”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | bogey | The Devil; A ghost, goblin, or other hostile... |
| 2 | Middle English | bugge | bogy, hobgoblin, bugbear; scarecrow |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | bugja- | swollen up, thick |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰew- | to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to... |
Words derived from “bogeyman”