Boggle
/ˈbɑː.ɡəl/noun
To make someone feel astonished or dismayed; to hesitate or be unable to make up one’s mind.
Did you know?The word is likely connected to older English forms like *bugge* and *bogey*, a family of words for a frightening goblin or specter, which is why it carries that eerie, haunted feeling.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
boglen
“to terrify, startle, or intimidate”
Middle English
English
bugge
“a frightening thing or goblin”
Middle English
English
bogey
“a goblin, specter, or frightful object”
Early Modern English
English
boggle
“to shy away, hesitate, or be frightened”
Modern English
English
boggle
“to feel or cause astonishment, confusion, or hesitation”