bogyman

[ boo g-ee-man, boh-gee-, boo- ]

/ ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈboʊ gi-, ˈbu- /

bogeyman.

Origin of bogyman

First recorded in 1885–90; bogy¹ + man¹

bogtrotter, bogue, bogus, bogwood, bogy, bogyman, boh, bohai, bohea, bohemia, bohemia-moravia

bogeyman

[ boo g-ee-man, boh-gee-, boo- ]

/ ˈbʊg iˌmæn, ˈboʊ gi-, ˈbu- /

an imaginary evil character of supernatural powers, especially a mythical hobgoblin supposed to carry off naughty children.

1885–90; bogey¹ (variant of bogy¹, in the sense “a hobgoblin, evil spirit”) + man¹

bogeyman

/ (ˈbəʊɡɪˌmæn) /

a person, real or imaginary, used as a threat, esp to children