Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bogill, Bogle, n. Also: boggill, boggle. [Of uncertain origin; in northern Eng. dial. as boggle.] A supernatural being of an ugly or terrifying aspect; a bugbear. c1500-c1512 Dunb. iii. 112.
The luf-blenkis of that bogill … abasit my spreit 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 273.
For me lyst … with na bogill nor browny to debait Ib. vi. Prol. 118.
Of browneis and of bogillis ful [is] this buke 1535 Stewart 46888.
Ane laithlie lene tramort, … like ane bogill all of ratland banis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 939.
Ȝon bairdit bogill cums fra ane traine Ib. 1954.
Swyith begger bogill, haist the away a1585 Polwart Flyt. 661.
Leaue boggles, brownies, gyrcarlings and gaists 1603 Philotus cxlviii.
As with ane bogill bazed 1600-1610 Melvill 202.
To these Hell is but a boggill to fley barnes 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xii. 17.
Being not Lares, but Laruæ or Lemures, that is, bogils or gaistes Ib. xvii. 30.
The alrishe innes of bogles and gaistes 1646 Baillie Anabapt. 44.
The Devils are nothing but only boggles in the night, to terrify men 1663 Lauderdale Papers (1884) I. 185.
I have written so much that I doe feare my hand shall grow a bugbeare, or as we say heir a bogell a1686 Turner Mem. 300.
I ame a great bogle amongst them