Adjacent Words

bugaboo definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an imaginary monster used to frighten children [syn: bogeyman, bugbear, bugaboo, boogeyman, booger]
2: a source of concern; "the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them"

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -boos) Etymology: earlier buggybow, bugger-bo, of unknown origin Date: 1598 1. an imaginary object of fear 2. bugbear 2; also something that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a bogey (see BOGEY(2)) or bugbear. Etymology: prob. of dial. orig.: cf. Welsh bwcibo the Devil, bwci hobgoblin

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Bugaboo Bug`a*boo", Bugbear Bug"bear`, n. [See Bug.] Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, used to frighten children, etc. ``Bugaboos to fright ye.'' --Lloyd. But, to the world no bugbear is so great As want of figure and a small estate. --Pope. The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray. --S. B. Griffin. The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl. --J. Burroughs. Syn: Hobgoblin; goblin; specter; ogre; scarecrow.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. See bugbear.