| 释义 |
bloody-bones|ˈblʌdɪˌbəʊnz|
Formerly -bone.
A phrase used, generally in conjunction with Rawhead, as the name of a bug-bear to terrify children; also fig. ‘bug-bear, terror.’ (Possibly associated with the apparition of a murdered man supposed to haunt the scene of his murder.)
c1550Wyll of Deuyll (Collier) 13 Our faythfull Secretaryes, Hobgoblyn and Blooddybone. 1598Florio, 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. c1622Fletcher Prophetess iv. v, But now I look Like Bloody-Bone and Raw-head, to frighten children. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 77 To terrify those mighty Champions, As we do children now with Bloody-bones. 1817T. Jefferson Corr. (1830) 301 Hancock and the Adamses were the raw-head and bloody bones of Tories and traitors. 1830T. Hamilton C. Thornton (1845) 393 As if he had come back from the wars a mere raw-head and bloody-bones. |