Meaning of boo hag | Babel Free

Definitions

A malevolent supernatural being thought to sit on sleeping victims to drain their life force.

Examples

“HAMILTON’S HILL, 0.4 m., a little elevation, was the starting point⟳ for the races, and is known for a wide variety of ghosts including such fearsome creatures as a 10-foot cat that explodes before the beholder’s eyes, plat-eyes in the guise of three-legged hogs and two-headed cows, boo-daddies, boo-hags, and drolls.”

“Witches are sometimes called boo-hags instead of just hags. One authority on witchcraft says that the boo-hag is more powerful than the ordinary hag, but all sea island Negroes do not concur in this opinion. Hags are hags, they say⟳, no matter⟳ what fancy name⟳ you may give⟳ them.”

“To the typical Negro of the Carolina coast, the night was made fearsome by hordes of spirit beings—the plat-eye, the boo-daddy and boo-hag, the drolls. […] Boo-daddies and boo-hags, were disembodied spirits, released for dread purposes, while drolls were the ghosts of children who had died under mysterious circumstances.”

“And once she had hold⟳ of her spirit, boo hag could slip⟳ off her skin and fly⟳ all over the place⟳, too. Ride⟳ you in just the shape⟳ of her while her skin hang⟳ there behind the door! 'Tis true!”

“Be sure to mind⟳ Mama, now. 'Cause if you let⟳ somebody in, you never know⟳. It just might be Pruella the Boo Hag.”

CEFR level