Where does “bugbear” come from?
Bugbear comes from English bug, of unknown origin, combined with English bere, from Old English bere, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰers- meaning to carry or bear.
bugbear (English): An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or...
Definitions
- An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or...
Ancestry of “bugbear”, step by step
bugbear traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English bear
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bear | A large omnivorous mammal, related to the dog and... |
| 2 | Middle English | bere | bear; To pierce |
| 3 | Old English | bere | barley; first-person singular present indicative... |
| 4 | Old English | tūn | enclosure, yard; place; dwelling |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | tūn | fence |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | tūną | fence; enclosure |
| 7 | Gaulish | dunum | fort; hill, hillfort |
| 8 | Proto-Celtic | dūnom | stronghold, rampart |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |