bogey

plural bogeys · alternative bogie · alternative bogy

1. A ghost, goblin, or other hostile supernatural creature.

   Synonyms: goblin

2. archaiccapitalizedoftenusuallywith definite articleThe Devil.

   Synonyms: Azazel, devil, demon, imp

3. figurativelyA bugbear: any terrifying thing.

   If one man could be said to be responsible for the creation of the Russian bogy, it was a much-decorated British general named Sir Robert Wilson.

   1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 54

   2 more examples

   Religious divides [among Protestants] went deep — this is evident from the reams of sermons and theological polemics published and avidly read — and only bashing the old bogey of Romism ('No Popery!') could unite Protestants.

   2001, Roy Porter, The Penguin Social History of Britain: English Society in the Eighteenth Century, revised edition, Penguin UK, →ISBN

   England could have been forgiven for believing the fates were against them as they trailed to their League A Group Four opponents, who have become something of a bogey side over the years.

   2018 November 18, Phil McNulty, “England 2 - 1 Croatia”, in BBC Sport

4. UKslangA police officer.
5. engineeringA standard of performance set up as a mark to be aimed at in competition.
6. aeronauticsAn unidentified aircraft, especially as observed as a spot on a radar screen and suspected to be hostile.

   1 more example

   He stood on the sand near the gravel road that passed within two miles of the site of the disintegrated bogey, binoculars hanging on a leather strap from his neck, face streaming with sweat under the brim of his hat... Army and government trucks passed along the road every few minutes, some bearing radiation stickers; many of those outward bound, he knew, carried fragments of the bogey. He was not privy to what they were finding.

   1987, Greg Bear, “Lacrimosa Dies Illa!”, in The Forge of God (science fiction), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 83

7. proscribedslangaeronauticsSynonym of bandit: an enemy aircraft.

   God dammit, Mustang! This is Ghost Rider 117. This bogey is all over me. He's got missile lock on me. Do I have permission to fire?

   1986, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., Top Gun (motion picture), spoken by Cougar

   Synonyms: bandit

8. golfThe notional opponent of a golfer playing alone.

   ‘I was just having a practice round against bogey,’ he said. ‘I caddied for myself, so there were no witnesses.’

   1931, Dorothy L. Sayers, The Five Red Herrings

9. golfA score of one over par on a hole.
10. UKA piece of mucus in or removed from the nostril; a booger.

present singular third person bogeys · participle present bogeying · participle past bogeyed · past bogeyed · participle past bogied · past bogied · alternative bogie · alternative bogy

1. ambitransitivegolfTo make a bogey on (a particular hole).

plural bogeys · alternative bogie · alternative bogy

1. UKengineeringA bog-standard (representative) specimen taken from the center of production.

present singular third person bogeys · participle present bogeying · participle past bogeyed · past bogeyed · alternative bogie · alternative bogy

1. AustraliaTo swim; to bathe.First known use 18th c.

plural bogeys · alternative bogie · alternative bogy

1. AustraliaA swim or bathe; a bath.First known use 19th c.

   My mother would use leaves from trees to make soap for washing our bodies with, and unfortunately for us kids there was no excuse not to take a bogey.

   1994, Rita Huggins & Jackie Huggins, Auntie Rita, in Heiss & Minter, Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, Allen & Unwin 2008, p. 151

plural bogeys · alternative bogie · alternative bogy

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of bogie (“one of two sets of wheels under a locomotive or railcar; also, a structure with axles and wheels under a locomotive, railcar, or semi which provides support and reduces vibration for the vehicle”).
2. alternativeAlternative spelling of bogie (“hand-operated truck or trolley”).
3. IndiaUKalternativedatedrail transportAlternative spelling of bogie (“railway carriage”).

   Upgrading the tram bogeys to air-conditioned bogeys costs the State Government approximately INR 25,00,000/- per bogey.

   2020 January 30, “Upgrading Kolkata's Tram Network”, in C40 Cities, archived from the original on 25 Feb 2024

1. A male given name.

   Bogey's voice is breaking. When he speaks he rushes up and down the scale.

   1920 August 27, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “The Wind Blows”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 143

2. informalHumphrey Bogart (1899–1957), American film and stage actor.

   In quintessential roles, Bogart and Bergman are former lovers reunited in wartorn Casablanca. Bogey is the cynical cafe owner who lives by his own moral code and sticks his neck out for “no one.”

   2014, David Bleiler, TLA Video & DVD Guide 2004: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide, St. Martin's Griffin, →ISBN