Plural of buggyman; men or creatures associated with bugs, or folklore characters used to frighten children.
From 'buggy' (full of bugs or resembling a bug) combined with 'men.' The singular 'buggyman' evolved from 19th-century folklore where it described a threatening creature, similar to the bogeyman.
Different cultures have creatures like this—the Buggyman, Bogeyman, and similar entities served as cautionary tales for children to stay obedient. It's fascinating how 'buggy' actually meant 'haunted by spirits' before it meant 'full of insects.'
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