Bogle
A Northumbrian, Cumbrian and Scots term for a ghost.
A bogle, also called a boggle or bogill, is a term from Northumbria, Cumbria, and Scotland for a ghost or folkloric being. It covers a range of related creatures, such as Shellycoats, Barghests, Brags, and the Hedley Kow. These beings are said to exist mainly to confuse people, not to seriously harm or serve them.
The name comes from Middle English *bugge* (which also gave us “bogey”), meaning “goblin” or “scarecrow,” related to the German *bögge* (source of *böggel-mann*, meaning “goblin”). The Welsh *bwg* may also be connected, though it was once thought to be the origin of the English term; now it’s considered a borrowing from Middle English. The Irish Gaelic *bagairt* (“threat”) could be related as well. Terms like *ettin* and *yotun* come from Middle English *eten*, *etend*, from Old English *eoten* (“giant, monster, enemy”), from Proto-Germanic *etunaz* (“giant, glutton”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed-* (“to eat”), and are cognate with Old Norse *jötunn*.
One famous use of the term appears in a line by Gavin Douglas, later quoted by Robert Burns at the start of *Tam O’ Shanter*: “Of Brownyis and of Bogillis full is this Buke.” A well-known story tells of a bogle called Tatty Bogle, who hid in potato fields (hence his name) to attack unwary people or cause blight in the crop. This bogle was depicted as a scarecrow, since “bogle” was an old word for “scarecrow” in parts of England and Scotland. Another Scottish reference is *The Bogle by the Boor Tree*, a poem by W. D. Cocker, where the Bogle is heard in the wind and trees, frightening small children. In the Scottish Lowlands around 1950, a bogle meant a ghost or a bogeyman, while a Tattie-Bogle was a scarecrow used to keep creatures out of potato fields; all three words were common among children. The connection between “bogle” and other similarly named creatures in folklore is unclear. The Highland *bocan* may be a cognate of the Norse *puki*, and thus also the English “Puck.” The *Larne Weekly Reporter* of 31 March 1866, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, ran a front-page article titled “Bogles in Ballygowan,” describing strange events where a house was pelted with missiles through windows and once through the roof, terrifying locals. The incidents stopped after several months and were blamed on the house bein
- field
- Folklore
- known_for
- Ghost or folkloric being that perplexes mankind
- region
- Northumbria, Cumbria, Scotland, and parts of Northern Ireland
Lore & Background
The name is derived from the Middle-English Bugge, meaning 'goblin' or 'scarecrow,' from which the term bogey is also derived, and is a cognate of the German bögge. The Welsh Bwg could also be connected, though it may be a borrowing from Middle English. The Irish Gaelic word 'bagairt' meaning 'threat' could also be related. Terms such as ettin and yotun are derived from Middle English eten, from Old English eoten, and are cognate with Old Norse jötunn.
One of the most famous usages of the term was by Gavin Douglas, quoted by Robert Burns at the beginning of Tam O' Shanter: 'Of Brownyis and of Bogillis full is this Buke.' There is a popular story of a bogle known as Tatty Bogle, who would hide in potato fields and either attack unwary humans or cause blight. This bogle was depicted as a scarecrow, 'bogle' being an old name for scarecrow in parts of England and Scotland. Anot
Reader's Guide
The bogle occupies a distinctive place in British folklore as a being whose primary purpose is to perplex rather than to harm or serve. This sets it apart from more malevolent spirits, though it can still cause fear and mischief. The term's linguistic roots span Middle English, German, Norwegian, Welsh, and Irish Gaelic, reflecting a broad cultural diffusion. Its usage in literature by Gavin Douglas and Robert Burns gives it a notable literary pedigree, while the Tatty Bogle story connects it to agricultural life as a scarecrow figure. The 1866 newspaper account from Northern Ireland shows that belief in bogles persisted into the 19th century, with local communities attributing unexplained phenomena to them. The bogle's legacy is seen in related terms like bogeyman and boggart, and its influence extends to modern scarecrow imagery. The uncertainty about connections to other creatures like the Bocan and Puck highlights the complex web of folklore that the bogle is part of.
Did You Know?
- The term bogle is derived from Middle-English Bugge, from which 'bogey' is also derived.
- A bogle known as Tatty Bogle would hide in potato fields and either attack unwary humans or cause blight.
- The Larne Weekly Reporter of 31 March 1866 carried an article entitled 'Bogles in Ballygowan' about strange goings-on in a rural house.
- In the Scottish Lowlands circa 1950, a bogle was a ghost and a Tattie-Bogle was a scarecrow.
More in Scottish folklore 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record