or raw-flesh, subs. phr. (old).—A spectre; ‘a scare-child’ (B. E., GROSE): usually RAW-HEAD AND BLOODY-BONES.
1550. Jyl of Brentford’s Testament [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 524. The Devil’s secretary bears the name of BLOODDY-BONE … whom we now couple with RAW-HEAD].
[?]. Wyll of the Devyll [HALLIWELL]. Written by our faithful secretaires, hobgoblen, RAWHED, AND BLOODY-BONE, in the spitefull audience of all the Court of hell.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes. Caccianemico, a bragging craking boaster, a bugbeare, a RAWE-FLESH AND BLOODIE BONE.
1622. FLETCHER, The Prophetess, iv. 4.
| I was told before, | |
| My face was bad enough; but now I look | |
| Like BLOODY-BONE AND RAW-HEAD, to fright children. |
1693. LOCKE, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, 138. Servants … awe children, and keep them in subjection, by telling them of RAWHEAD AND BLOODY BONES.
1870. Figaro, 19 Oct. We have sometimes heard of a school of literature called “The RAW-HEAD AND BLOODY-BONES School.”
