Etymology tree
Proto-Turkic *bulga-der.
Proto-Turkic *bulgar
Old Turkic 𐰉𐰆𐰞𐰍𐰀 (b¹wl¹g¹a)
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos
Proto-Slavic *-inъ
Old Church Slavonic -инъ (-inŭ)
Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ)der.
Medieval Latin Bulgarusder.
Old French bogrebor.
Middle English bougre
English bugger
From Middle English bougre (“heretic”), from Old French bougre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus (“Bulgar”), from Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ, “Bulgarian”), used in designation of heretics (especially the Bogomils, who arose around the 10th century AD in the First Bulgarian Empire), to whom various sexual practices such as anal sex were ascribed. Doublet of Bulgar.
Meanings
(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, slang, transitive, vulgar) An expression of annoyance or displeasure.
Bugger, I've missed the bus.
Dear Lord, forgive me for what I am about to, ah, say in this magnificent place of worship. Bugger. Bugger! Bugger-bugger-bugger-bugger! 1994, Richard Curtis, Four Weddings and a Funeral, spoken by Charles (Hugh Grant):
Etymology tree
Proto-Turkic *bulga-der.
Proto-Turkic *bulgar
Old Turkic 𐰉𐰆𐰞𐰍𐰀 (b¹wl¹g¹a)
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos
Proto-Slavic *-inъ
Old Church Slavonic -инъ (-inŭ)
Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ)der.
Medieval Latin Bulgarusder.
Old French bogrebor.
Middle English bougre
English bugger
From Middle English bougre (“heretic”), from Old French bougre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus (“Bulgar”), from Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ, “Bulgarian”), used in designation of heretics (especially the Bogomils, who arose around the 10th century AD in the First Bulgarian Empire), to whom various sexual practices such as anal sex were ascribed. Doublet of Bulgar.
Meanings
(obsolete) A heretic.
(UK) Someone who commits buggery; a sodomite.
The British Sexual Offences Act of 1967 is a buggers’ charter.
(Commonwealth, Hawaii, derogatory, slang) A foolish or worthless person or thing; a despicable person.
The bugger’s given me the wrong change.
My computer's being a bit of a bugger.
1928, Frank Parker Day, Rockbound, Gutenberg Australia eBook #0500721h,
“I’ll take it out on dat young bugger,” he thought viciously.
Here the cheers and shouts of the gallery were interrupted by a shabby little man in the back row who yelled out with piercing distinctness: “Don't matter what you call ’im now, George. The bugger’s dead.” 1947, James Hilton, So Well Remembered, Gutenberg Australia eBook #0600371h:
He's a silly bugger for losing his keys.
(Commonwealth, Hawaii, slang) A situation that is aggravating or causes dismay; a pain.
So you're stuck out in the woop-woop and the next train back is Thursday next week. Well, that's a bit of a bugger.
(Commonwealth, Hawaii, slang) Someone viewed with affection; a chap.
1946, Olaf Stapledon, Arms Out of Hand, in Collected Stories, Gutenberg Australia eBook #0601341,
Good luck, you old bugger!
How are you, you old bugger?
1953 February-March, Henry Beam Piper, John Joseph McGuire, Null-ABC, in Astounding Science Fiction, Gutenberg eBook #18346,
“And if Pelton found out that his kids are Literates—Woooo!” Cardon grimaced. “Or what we've been doing to him. I hope I’m not around when that happens. I’m beginning to like the cantankerous old bugger.”
(dated, slang) A damn, anything at all.
I don't give a bugger how important you think it is.
(Commonwealth, slang) Someone who is very fond of something
bg мухльо (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · de Lump (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fr fondu (slang: someone very fond of something) · es bujarrón (someone who commits buggery) · cs debil (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · de Kerl (slang: someone viewed with affection) · fr tête de nœud (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fi diggari (slang: someone very fond of something) · af bokker (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · ur گانڈو (someone who commits buggery) · cs hovno (dated slang: a damn) · fr abruti (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fi kusipää (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · nl sodemieter (someone who commits buggery) · hu szívás (slang: a situation that causes dismay) · fi vintiö (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fr rascal (slang: someone viewed with affection) · hi गांडू (someone who commits buggery) · fr vieille branche (slang: someone viewed with affection) · pl skurwysyn (slang: someone viewed with affection) · af bogger (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fi renttu (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fi retale (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · bg нехранимайка (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · de Sodomit (someone who commits buggery) · fr glandu (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · nl sodemieter (dated slang: a damn) · mi pokokōhua (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · eo maniulo (slang: someone very fond of something) · fi ryökäle (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · pt um puto (dated slang: a damn) · de Arschficker (someone who commits buggery) · ru содомит (someone who commits buggery) · fi pervertikko (someone who commits buggery) · fi lurjus (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · mi pōkōtiwha (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · el βλάκας (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · de Kumpel (slang: someone viewed with affection) · eo bugrulo (someone who commits buggery) · fi hittoakaan (dated slang: a damn) · es bugarrón (someone who commits buggery) · fi kamu (slang: someone viewed with affection) · bg нехранимайко (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · bg педераст (someone who commits buggery) · de Fan (slang: someone very fond of something) · fi luonnonvastainen (someone who commits buggery) · sk blbec (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · de Arschloch (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · es pervertido (someone who commits buggery) · es sodomita (someone who commits buggery) · fi hemmo (slang: someone viewed with affection) · fi retku (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · de Mistkerl (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · fr sodomite (someone who commits buggery) · fi tollo (foolish or worthless person, rascal) · cs sodomita (someone who commits buggery)
Etymology tree
Proto-Turkic *bulga-der.
Proto-Turkic *bulgar
Old Turkic 𐰉𐰆𐰞𐰍𐰀 (b¹wl¹g¹a)
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos
Proto-Slavic *-inъ
Old Church Slavonic -инъ (-inŭ)
Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ)der.
Medieval Latin Bulgarusder.
Old French bogrebor.
Middle English bougre
English bugger
From Middle English bougre (“heretic”), from Old French bougre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus (“Bulgar”), from Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ, “Bulgarian”), used in designation of heretics (especially the Bogomils, who arose around the 10th century AD in the First Bulgarian Empire), to whom various sexual practices such as anal sex were ascribed. Doublet of Bulgar.
Meanings
(Commonwealth, transitive, vulgar) To have anal sex with, sodomize.
To be buggered sore like a hobo's whore (Attributed to Harry Mclintock's 1920s era Big Rock Candy Mountain)
(Commonwealth, slang, transitive, vulgar) To break or ruin.
This computer is buggered! Oh no! I've buggered it up.
(Commonwealth, slang, transitive, vulgar) Expressing contemptuous dismissal of the grammatical object.
Oh, bugger this! I'm going out for a beer instead.
Bugger Bognor. (Alleged to be the last words of King George V of the United Kingdom in response to a suggestion that he might recover from his illness and visit Bognor Regis.)
Etymology tree
English bug
Proto-Indo-European *-yósder.
Proto-Italic *-āzios
Latin -āriusnom.
Latin -āriusbor.
Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz
Proto-West Germanic *-ārī
Old English -ere
Middle English -ere
English -er
English bugger
From bug (noun) + -er.
Meanings
(Commonwealth, transitive, vulgar) One who sets a bug (surveillance device); one who bugs.