DesignScape - 2'x4' Boo

What an odd phrase for a spirit to say. The word “boo” has been used to startle people since the mid-16th century. However, ghosts have only been using the word “boo” for less than two centuries. The origins of the word “boo” are uncertain, but it is believed to have evolved from the Latin word “boare” or the Greek word “βοᾶν,” which both mean “to cry aloud, roar, or shout”. In the past, “boo” was not used to frighten others but to assert one’s presence. For example, the traditional Scottish proverb “He can’t say boo to a goose” has been used for centuries to call somebody “timid” or “sheepish”.

It wasn’t until the 18th century that “boo” became associated with fear. By 1738, “boo” was being used in the North of Scotland to frighten crying children. Over time, “boo” became phonetically suited “to produce a loud and startling sound”. It is unclear why ghosts specifically started using the word “boo.” However, it is believed that the influence of spiritualism in the 19th century may have played a role in popularizing the use of “boo” by ghosts.