bogey

views updated Jun 11 2018

bo·gey1 / ˈbōgē/ Golf • n. (pl. -geys) a score of one stroke over par at a hole.• v. (-geys, -geyed) [tr.] play (a hole) in one stroke over par.bo·gey2 / ˈboŏgē/ (also bo·gy) • n. (pl. -geys) a person or thing that causes fear or alarm: the bogey of recession. ∎  an evil or mischievous spirit. ∎  military slang an enemy aircraft.

Bogey

views updated May 21 2018

Bogey

An evil spirit. The term may derive from the Slavonic bog (god). Other forms of the name of this ancient sprite, specter, or goblin are bug-a-boo, boo (Yorkshire), boggart, bogle (Scot-land), boggle, bo-guest, bar-guest, boll, bo-man, and bock. Bullbeggar is probably a form of bu and bogey allied to boll (Northern England), an apparition.

(See also Boh )

Sources:

Briggs, Katherine. An Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. New York: Pantheon Books, 1976.

bogey

views updated May 09 2018

bogey an evil or mischievous spirit. Recorded from the mid 19th century, as a proper name for the Devil, the word is probably related to bogle.

In golf, bogey denotes a score of one stroke over par at a hole, and may come from Bogey (the Devil) regarded as an imaginary player.


Bogey

views updated May 29 2018

Bogey ( golf ) the number of strokes a good player should need for each hole. XIX. Said to be from an imaginary partner ‘Bogey’ (same as prec.).

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