English Lexicon

Tattie-bogle

/ˈtæ.tiˌboː.ɡəl/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #85000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A scarecrow, especially one set up in a potato field.

    "The farmer erected a tattie-bogle with old clothes and a turnip head to frighten the crows away."
  2. 2

    A frightening figure, bogy, or phantom in Scottish folklore.

    "Children were warned that the old tattie-bogle in the mist would catch them if they stayed out too late."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Scottish dialect, combining 'tattie' (a colloquial term for potato) and 'bogle' (a scarecrow, goblin, or specter). First recorded in the 19th century, the term originally referred specifically to a scarecrow erected in potato fields to deter birds and pests.

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