n., v., & int. coarse sl. (except in sense 2 of n. and 3 of v.) °Usually considered a taboo word.
n. 1 a an unpleasant or awkward person or thing (the bugger won't fit). b a person of a specified kind (he's a miserable bugger; you clever bugger!). 2 a person who commits buggery.
v.tr. 1 as an exclamation of annoyance (bugger the thing!). 2 (often foll. by up) Brit. a ruin; spoil (really buggered it up; no good, its buggered). b exhaust, tire out. 3 commit buggery with.
int. expressing annoyance. bugger about (or around) (often foll. by with) 1 mess about. 2 mislead; persecute. bugger-all nothing. bugger off (often in imper.) go away.
[ ME f. MDu. f. OF bougre, orig. 'heretic' f. med.L Bulgarus Bulgarian (member of the Greek Church) ]