A bugbear is a

legendary creature A legendary creature (also mythical or mythological creature) is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical accou ...

or type of

hobgoblin A hobgoblin is a household spirit, typically appearing in folklore, once considered helpful, but which since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck in his '' A Midsummer N ...

comparable to the boogeyman (or bugaboo or babau or cucuy), and other creatures of

folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, r ...

, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children.

Etymology

Its name is derived from the

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English ...

word "bugge" (a frightening thing), or perhaps the

Old Welsh Old Welsh ( cy, Hen Gymraeg) is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic a ...

word ''bwg'' (evil spirit or

goblin A goblin is a small, grotesque, monstrous creature that appears in the folklore of multiple European cultures. First attested in stories from the Middle Ages, they are ascribed conflicting abilities, temperaments, and appearances depending on t ...

), or

Old Scots Early Scots was the emerging literary language of the Northern Middle English speaking parts of Scotland in the period before 1450. The northern forms of Middle English descended from Northumbrian Old English. During this period, speakers refe ...

''bogill'' (goblin), and cognates most probably English "bogeyman" and "bugaboo". In

medieval England England in the Middle Ages concerns the history of England during the medieval period, from the end of the 5th century through to the start of the Early Modern period in 1485. When England emerged from the collapse of the Roman Empire, the econ ...

, the bugbear was depicted as a creepy bear that lurked in the woods to scare children. It was described in this manner in ''The Buggbears'', an adaptation, with additions, from

Antonio Francesco Grazzini Antonio Francesco Grazzini or Antonfrancisco Grazzini (March 22, 1503February 18, 1584) was an Italian author." Biography He was born at Florence or in Staggia Senese (he wrote of himself: Rime di Antonfrancesco detto il Lasca'', parte prima ...

’s ''La Spiritata'' (‘The Possessed

oman Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of ...

��, 1561). In a modern context, the term ''bugbear'' may also mean pet peeve.

In popular culture

Bugbears appear in a number of modern fantasy literature and related media, where they are usually minor antagonists. They also appear as monsters, described as large, hairy goblinoids, in the canon of popular fantasy role-playing games.

References

{{Fairies English legendary creatures Hobgoblins Devils Supernatural legends Bogeymen

Etymology

In popular culture

See also

References