A goblin; a bugbear; a bogey{1}. This is the form used by parents to frighten children; as, if you don't eat your vegetables, the bogeyman will get you.

Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, or an imaginary monster, used to frighten children, etc.

The bogeyman, boogyman, or bogyman, is a legendary ghost-like monster often believed in by children. The bogeyman has no specific appearance. He is sometimes equated with specific real-life persons, such as serial killer Albert Fish.