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boogum

boogum

9.9
A pretend monster children imagine hiding in places like closets
  • noun
  • /ˈbuːɡəm/
  • Baby Talk
translation icon : monstrito
  • At bedtime, her father joked that a friendly boogum lived under the stairs.

Examples

  • The children screamed and ran when they thought a boogum was hiding in the closet.

  • Look out for the boogum hiding under your bed!

  • He made a silly face and pretended to be a boogum to make his little brother laugh.

  • The children were scared of the boogum in the closet.

  • The children screamed and ran when they thought a boogum was hiding in the closet.

  • At bedtime, her father joked that a friendly boogum lived under the stairs.

  • He made a silly face and pretended to be a boogum to make his little brother laugh.

Synonyms

boogeyman
vsboogum
  • Baby Talk
34 8.1

An imaginary monster adults mention to scare children into behaving

is playful or silly and not mainly used to scare children
booger
vsboogum
  • Archaic
15 9.9

An imaginary creature parents mention to frighten children

is a playful nonsense word rather than a frightening threat
ghoulie
vsboogum
  • Baby Talk
1 9.5

A small, playful monster or ghost used with children

is a nonsense playful label rather than an ordinary informal name
boogan
vsboogum
  • Literature
9.9

A small naughty creature in stories blamed for little pranks

is more silly and playful rather than truly troublesome

Surface Forms

boogum singular
boogums plural

Etymology

Boogum feels like the same playful idea as bogey or the bogeyman, old names for small scary creatures. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine a tiny, silly ghost that children pretend about, which is why boogum means a playful 'ghost' or 'monster'.