Bugbear

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

·adj Causing needless fright.

II. Bugbear ·vt To alarm with idle phantoms.

III. Bugbear ·noun ·same·as Bugaboo.

IV. Bugbear ·noun Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, used to frighten children, ·etc.