Abugbear is alegendary creature or type ofhobgoblin comparable to theboogeyman (or bugaboo or babau or cucuy), and other creatures offolklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedientchildren.[1]
Its name is derived from theMiddle English word "bugge" (a frightening thing), or perhaps theOld Welsh wordbwg (evil spirit orgoblin),[2] orOld Scotsbogill (goblin), and cognates most probably English "bogeyman" and "bugaboo".
Inmedieval England, the bugbear was depicted as a creepy bear that lurked in the woods to scare children. It was described in this manner inThe Buggbears,[2] an adaptation, with additions, fromAntonio Francesco Grazzini’sLa Spiritata (‘The Possessed [Woman]’, 1561).[3]
In a modern context, the termbugbear may also meanpet peeve.[4]
Bugbears appear in a number of modern fantasy literature and related media, where they are usually minor antagonists.[5] They also appear as monsters, described as large, hairy goblinoids, in the canon of popular fantasy role-playing games.[6][7][8]
