bogey
UK: ˈbəʊɡi | US: ˈboʊɡi
n. 1. (golf) a score of one stroke over par on a hole
n. 2. (informal) something causing fear or annoyance; a nuisance or bugbear
n. 3. (military slang) an unidentified or enemy aircraft
The word "bogey" originated in the late 19th century, likely derived from the term "bogeyman," a mythical creature used to frighten children. The golf sense emerged as a playful metaphor for an imaginary opponent ("Colonel Bogey") who played at par. Later, it expanded to military slang for unidentified aircraft, retaining its association with something elusive or threatening. The morpheme "bog" preserves the original spelling tied to fear, while "-ey" functions as a noun-forming suffix.
He scored a bogey on the 5th hole after missing a short putt.
Traffic jams are the bogey of urban commuters.
The radar detected an unidentified bogey approaching from the east.
Parents often warn children about the bogeyman to encourage good behavior.
The pilot was alerted to a potential bogey during the training exercise.