Bloody Bones, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈblʌdɪ ˌbəʊnz/, U.S. /ˈblədi ˌboʊnz/
Forms: α. 15 Blooddy Bone, 15 Bloodie Bone, 15 Bloudi Bone, 15 Bloudie Bone, 15 Bloudy Bone, 15–16 Bloody Bone. β. 15– Bloody Bones, 16 Bloodie Bones, 16 Bloudy Bones.
Etymology:In α. forms < bloody adj. + bone n. In β. forms < bloody adj. + the plural of bone n.
Like the associated figure of Rawhead (see raw-head n.2), apparently originating in a story or legend, although this has not been identified. For further discussion see raw-head n.2
A bogeyman or bugbear, esp. invoked to frighten children. Freq. used in conjunction with Rawhead (see raw-head n.2). Also fig.
Bloody Bones has been variously described; in some versions he is said to lurk in ponds waiting to drown children; he may also be associated with the apparition of a murdered man supposed to haunt the scene of his murder.
?1548 Wyll of Deuyll sig. C.iv, Our faythfull Secretaryes, Hobgoblyn, and Blooddybone.
1566 J. Rastell Third Bk. beware of M. Iewel f. 9v, There is not that Discretion or Consideration, by which they may..put a difference betwene their Grandmothers tale of Bloudy bone..and the Churches Doctrine of Hell and the Deuill.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes, Mani..imagined spirits that nurces fraie their babes withall to make them leaue crying, as we say bug-beare, or els rawe head and bloodie bone.
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Prophetesse iv. v, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ffff/1, But now I look like bloody bone, and raw head, to fright children.
1693 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §131. 159 It being the usual Method of Servants to awe Children, and keep them in subjection, by telling them of Raw-Head and Bloody-Bones, and such other Names, as carry with them the Idea's of some hurtful terrible Things, inhabiting darkness.
1711 E. Settle City-ramble iv. 55 Here you must bring me Amongst a Pack of Bloody-Bones and Cut-Throats, And pull down a whole House of Goblings upon my Head.
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality I. iii. 81, I should not like, even now, to..have my curtains, at midnight, opened suddenly upon me by a death's-head and bloody-bones.
1817 T. Jefferson Let. 5 May (1830) 301 Hancock and the Adamses were the raw-head and bloody bones of Tories and traitors.
1827 T. Hamilton Youth & Manhood Cyril Thornton iii ix. 214 As if he had come home to you a mere Rawhead and Bloodybones.
1892 C. H. Smith Farm & Fireside 314 Old Uncle Sam..was familiar with spirits and graveyards, and had shook hands with Rawhead and Bloodybones.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. 541 The corpsechewer! Raw head and bloody bones!
1961 Western Folklore 20 276 Raw Head and Bloody Bones went around with ha'nts and boogermen.
2002 State(Columbia, S. Carolina) (Nexis) 22 Mar. a1 Children were told if they didn't behave, Rawhead and Bloody Bones were going to get them.
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