bugaboo
UK[ˈbʌɡəbuː]US[ˈbʌɡəˌbuː]
n
A source of fear, anxiety, or annoyance; a bugbear.
n
An imaginary creature used to frighten children.
Etymology
The word 'bugaboo' has a colorful and somewhat obscure etymology, entering English in the mid-18th century. It is believed to be a playful elaboration or corruption of 'bugbear', influenced by the Welsh 'bwci-bo', a term for a frightening specter. The journey from a specific Welsh folkloric creature to a general English term for any persistent fear or annoyance demonstrates a common pattern of linguistic borrowing and semantic broadening. The word's whimsical, almost onomatopoeic sound contributes to its modern sense of an often-irrational or exaggerated object of dread.
Analysis
The word 'bugaboo' is considered a simplex form in modern English. It is likely an alteration of the Welsh term 'bwci-bo', meaning a hobgoblin or scarecrow, which itself is a combination of 'bwci' (goblin) and 'bo' (a scare sound). Its functional role is as a complete lexical unit.
Examples
The potential for higher taxes is a constant bugaboo for small business owners.
Parents sometimes invent a bugaboo to keep their children from wandering into the woods.
For the team's defense, stopping the star quarterback remains their primary bugaboo.