bugbear English · revision 2381

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbʌɡ.bɛə(ɹ)/, /ˈbʌɡ.bɛː(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbʌɡ.bɛɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|bug|bear|t1=goblin, bogey|t2=bear]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) with obsolete ''bug'', Middle English ''bugge'' (about 1395).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) The origin of ''bugge'' is uncertain;^(Barnhart 1995) a Celtic source has been suggested, compare Irish and Gaelic ''bocan'' “hobgoblin”, but Welsh ''bwg'' “goblin” is now thought to be borrowed from the English word.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An object of needless dread, an imaginary terror (1580);^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a kind of hobgoblin, presumably in the shape of a bear, believed to devour naughty children (1581).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a bogey used to frighten children, the word passed to any source of fear, real or imaginary,^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) and was then weakened to an annoyance or a persistent problem,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which is its usual modern sense.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1580 – an object of needless dread.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1581 – a child-eating hobgoblin.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * c1600 – attributive use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650 – verb, to frighten with imaginary fears.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A continuing source of irritation or difficulty; a persistent problem.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An object or source of dread, especially a needless one.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(folklore)'' An imaginary goblin used to frighten children, especially one that eats naughty children.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bug]]

+ * [[bugaboo]]

+ * [[bogey]]

+ * [[bear]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}