Bogle

What it is

The bogle is a figure from the folklore of northern England and Scotland. It serves as a general term for various ghosts, household spirits, and strange creatures. The name covers entities like the Shellycoat, the Barghest, and even giants. These beings are not seen as helpful servants or deadly monsters. Instead, they are reputed to exist simply to perplex mankind. Their primary goal is to confuse, startle, or frighten people without causing lasting injury.

Where it comes from

The word comes from the Middle English Bugge. This root also produced the modern term bogey. It shares a lineage with the German word bögge and possibly the Norwegian dialect word bugge. Some earlier scholars linked it to the Welsh Bwg, but this is now considered unlikely. The concept may also relate to the Irish Gaelic bagairt, meaning threat. Giants associated with ancient sites were sometimes included under this broad label.

How it is done

Bogles are described as hiding in specific places to surprise passersby. A common form was the Tatty Bogle, which appeared as a scarecrow in potato fields. This version would either attack humans directly or cause blight to the crops. Other accounts describe them making noises in the wind or trees to frighten small children. They were believed to inhabit homes and rural areas, using their environment to create confusion.

Tools and materials

The most distinct tool associated with the bogle is the scarecrow. In the Scottish Lowlands around 1950, a Tattie-Bogle was literally a straw figure used to protect potatoes from animals. However, the term was also applied to the ghostly entity itself. Other manifestations involved natural sounds, such as wind moving through trees, which were interpreted as the voice of the bogle.

What it is for

People told stories about bogles to explain unexplained noises or crop failures. Parents used the idea of a frightening bogle to keep children from wandering into dark fields or woods at night. The belief served as a warning against danger in the home or the countryside. It was a way to personify the unknown elements of daily life in rural communities.

Who does it

No specific priest or ritual specialist performs rites for the bogle. It is a figure of popular folk belief among ordinary households in the north. Children in the Scottish Lowlands knew the term well alongside bogeyman. Adults used the stories to enforce safety rules regarding fields and dark houses.

Peoples and places

The tradition is strongest in Northumbria, Cumbria, and the Scottish Lowlands. Writers like Gavin Douglas and Robert Burns recorded these terms in literature. In County Antrim, Northern Ireland, reports of bogles appeared in newspapers, linking strange events in houses to the 'little people'. The term varies across these regions but always points to a confusing or frightening presence.

What people believe

The worldview behind the bogle sees the world as populated by unseen forces that interact with humans. These forces are not necessarily evil gods or demons. They are mischievous or unsettling entities that occupy the space between the human home and the wild landscape. Their existence explains why things go wrong or why strange sounds are heard at night.

When it is done

There are no specific festivals tied to the bogle. Stories were told whenever the need arose to explain fear or misfortune. The scarecrow form was relevant during the growing season for potatoes. Ghostly encounters were reported at any time, often involving dark nights or abandoned buildings.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Scholars trace the etymology back to Proto-Germanic roots meaning giant or glutton. Anthropologists view these figures as part of the broader European tradition of household spirits and bogeymen. The variation in names reflects local dialects and the fluid nature of oral storytelling in border regions.

Compare and confuse

The bogle is closely related to the English bogeyman and the Scottish boggart. All three terms describe household spirits or ghosts that cause trouble. The term is also connected to the Hedley Kow and other shape-shifting figures in northern folklore.

Questions people ask about Bogle

Good reading and sources

• Bogle on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data