Obs. [f. BUG sb.1 + WORD. Cf. bugbear word.] A word meant to frighten or terrify; a word that causes dread. Usually in pl. Swaggering or threatening language.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 54. All be bugs woords, that I speake to spare.
a. 1600. Hooker, Wks. (1845), I. 277. Certaine wordes, as Nature, Reason, Will and such like which wheresoever you find named you suspect … as bugs wordes.
1632. Sanderson, Serm., 163. Out-dared with the bigge-lookes and bug-words of those that could doe him no harme.
1668. Dryden, Sir M. Mar-all, I. i. I … have nothing to hope for … but death. Death is a bug-word.
a. 1734. North, Exam., I. ii. ¶ 105 (1740). 87. A Rebellion; O no, that’s a bug Word.
