Bugbear


A bugbear is a legendary creature or type of hobgoblin comparable to the bogeyman, and other creatures of folklore, all of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children.

Etymology

Its name is derived from the Middle English word "bugge", or perhaps the Old Welsh word bwg, or Old Scots bogill, and has cognates in German bögge or böggel-mann, and most probably also English "bogeyman" and American English "bugaboo".
In medieval England, the bugbear was depicted as a creepy bear that lurked in the woods to scare children. It was described in this manner in The Buggbears, an adaptation, with additions, from Grazzini’s La Spiritata.
In a modern context, the term bugbear may also mean pet peeve.

In popular culture

Bugbears appear in a number of modern fantasy literature and related media, where they are usually minor antagonists. They also appear as monsters, described as large, hairy goblinoids, in the canon of popular fantasy role-playing games.
The episode "Slice of Life |Slice of Life" features a bugbear, portrayed as a literal hybrid of a bear and a bee.