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 Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses ...

or type of hobgoblin comparable to the boogeyman (or bugaboo or babau or cucuy), and other creatures of folklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient

child A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

ren.

Etymology

Its name is derived from the Middle 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 ...

word ''bwg'' (evil spirit or goblin), 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, 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’s ''La Spiritata'' (‘The Possessed oman��, 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