different between boggart vs boggard

English

Noun

boggart (plural boggarts)

1. Alternative spelling of boggard

Anagrams

• braggot, grotbag

English

Etymology 1

Of uncertain etymology, but likely from Lancashire, Yorkshire etc dialectal variants of bug (“goblin; terrifying thing; etc.”), equivalent to bog +? -ard.

Alternative forms

• boggart, buggard, baggard (obsolete)

Noun

boggard (plural boggards)

1. (Britain dialectal) A bogey: a ghost, goblin, or other hostile supernatural creature, especially a small local spirit haunting gloomy places or the scenes of violence.
   • 1768 in 1818, John Ray, A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs, page 123:

     He thinks every bush a boggard, i.e. a bugbear or phantasm.
2. (figuratively) A bugbear: any terrifying thing.
   • a. 1599, in 1616, Robert Rollock, Lectures upon the History of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Ch. xiv, page 132:

     Hell is but a boggarde to scarre children.

3. (obsolete) Any real or imagined thing which prompts a horse to boggle (take fright).

Synonyms

• (hostile supernatural creature): See goblin

Derived terms

• frayboggard (“scarecrow”)

Etymology 2

bog (“latrine; outhouse”) +? -ard

Noun

boggard (plural boggards)

1. (obsolete) An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.

Alternative forms

• bogard, boggards

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:bathroom

References