Boggart
/ˈbɒɡ.ət/noun
A mischievous or malevolent spirit or goblin in English folklore.
Did you know?The word is deeply rooted in northern English dialect and folklore, where a boggart was treated less like a fairy-tale creature and more like a household haunting with a nasty attitude.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Middle English
English
bogge / bugge
“A frightening thing, hobgoblin, or scarecrow-like bogey.”
Middle English
English
boggart
“A goblin, specter, or mischievous household spirit.”
16th–17th Century
English
boggart
“A local name for a troublesome ghost or fairy-like being in northern England.”
Modern English
English
boggart
“A mischievous or malevolent spirit or goblin in folklore.”