boggan
The boogeyman, the scary thing used to keep kids in line.
Also called boogerman, booger man, boogeyman.
Updated September 21, 2026
boggan pronunciation
/BOG-un/
Meaning
A regional name for the bogeyman. Same job as booger man and boogerman: the figure parents invoke when kids stay out past dark or act ugly. In mountain talk, booger and its cousins can also cover haints and general spooky business, not just the closet monster.
How folks use it
- “You better get in this house before the boggan gets you.”
- “Kids around here still talk about the boggan in the woods.”
Origin and etymology
Bogeyman comes from British bogey or bogy, a hobgoblin word. In the American South and Appalachia the sound shifted toward booger, boogerman, and related spellings. Boggan sits in that same family as a clipped regional form. Exact first print for this spelling is scarce; the idea is older than any one spelling.
Frequently asked questions
Is boggan the same as booger man?
Same neighborhood. Booger man is the commoner Southern form. Boggan is another regional take on the boogeyman.