(usually RAW-HEAD and BLOODY-BONES) subs. phr. (old).—A spectre; ‘a scare-child’ (B. E., GROSE): also RAW-FLESH AND BLOODY-BONES.

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  1550.  Jyl of Brentford’s Testament. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 524. The Devil’s secretary bears the name of BLOODDY-BONE … whom we now couple with RAW-HEAD.]

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  [?].  Wyll of the Devyll [HALLIWELL]. Written by our faithful secretaryes, hobgoblen, RAWHED, AND BLODDY-BONE, in the spitefull audience of all the Court of hell.

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  1598.  FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Caccianemico, a bragging craking boaster, a bugbeare, a RAWE-FLESH AND BLOODIE BONE.

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  1622.  FLETCHER, The Prophetess, iv. 4.

                    I was told before
My face was bad enough; but now I look
Like BLOODY-BONE, AND RAW-HEAD to fright children.

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  1693.  LOCKE, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, 138. Servants … awe children, and keep them in subjection, by telling them of RAWHEAD AND BLOODY BONES.

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  1870.  Figaro, 19 Oct. We have sometimes heard of a school of literature called “The RAW-HEAD AND BLOODY-BONES School.”

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