n. [ Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice. ] 1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with water, used for making violet or purple dye. It is prepared from certain species of lichen, especially Lecanora tartarea. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A lichen (Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is obtained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Bugaboo. -- a. Causing needless fright. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To alarm with idle phantoms. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ See Bug. ] 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. “Bugaboos to fright ye.” Lloyd. [ 1913 Webster ]

But, to the world no bugbear is so great
As want of figure and a small estate. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray. S. B. Griffin. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl. J. Burroughs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a source of concern; as, the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Syn. -- Hobgoblin; goblin; specter; ogre; scarecrow; bogeyman; boogeyman; booger. [ 1913 Webster ]