Boddagh

/ˈbɒdə/ noun

Definition

In Irish and Scottish folklore, a phantom or ghostly spirit, sometimes depicted as a warning portent or death omen.

Etymology

From Irish and Scottish Gaelic bodach, related to Old Irish bocht. The word appears in Celtic supernatural traditions and was documented in English folklore texts.

Kelly Says

Boddaghs were often interpreted as harbingers of death in Celtic cultures—seeing one supposedly meant misfortune was coming, reflecting how folklore encoded warnings about danger.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.