bugger

¹

[ buhg-er, boog- ]

noun

1. Informal. a fellow or lad (used affectionately or abusively):

   a cute little bugger.

2. Informal. any object or thing.
3. Often Vulgar. a sodomite.
4. Chiefly British Slang.
   1. a despicable or contemptible person, especially a man.
   2. an annoying or troublesome thing, situation, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. Often Vulgar. to sodomize.
2. Slang. damn:

   Bugger the cost—I want the best.

3. Chiefly British Slang. to trick, deceive, or take advantage of.

verb phrase

1. Chiefly British Slang. to depart; bug off.
2. Chiefly British Slang. to ruin; spoil; botch.

bugger

²

[ buhg-er ]

1. a person who installs a hidden listening device.

bugger

/ ˈbʌɡə /

noun

1. a person who practises buggery
2. slang.
   a person or thing considered to be contemptible, unpleasant, or difficult
3. slang.
   a humorous or affectionate term for a man or child

   a friendly little bugger

   a silly old bugger

4. bugger all slang.
   nothing
5. play silly buggers slang.
   to fool around and waste time

verb

1. to practise buggery (with)
2. slang.
   tr to ruin, complicate, or frustrate
3. slang.
   to tire; weary

   he was absolutely buggered

interjection

1. slang.
   an exclamation of annoyance or disappointment

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugger¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bougre, from Anglo-French bugre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus “heretic,” literally, “Bulgarian,” by association of the Balkans with heretical sects such as the Bogomils ( def ) and their alleged deviant sexual practices; bugger ¹def 1 perhaps by reanalysis as bug ¹ or bug ² + -er ¹ ( booger )

Origin of bugger²

First recorded in 1965–70; bug ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bugger¹

C16: from Old French bougre , from Medieval Latin Bulgarus Bulgarian; from the condemnation of the dualist heresy rife in Bulgaria from the tenth century to the fifteenth