Bugbears (folklore)

A Bugbear is a mythical monster that appears in English folklore and was said to be related to the goblin, however as the name suggests this evil spirit took the form of a bear and was used as a type of bogeyman to discourage children from bad behavior.

Although the Bugbear of legend is somewhat rare today its legacy continues in the word, which has become a broad term for the bogeyman in general.