b-o-g
BOG is a wetland area with soft, muddy ground, or to become stuck in such terrain. From Irish peat bogs to getting bogged down in details, this versatile word has both literal and figurative uses.
6
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
BOG has two primary meanings. As a noun, it refers to a wetland characterized by acidic, waterlogged soil, often covered with sphagnum moss and peat. Bogs form in cool climates where dead plant material accumulates faster than it decomposes, creating thick layers of peat over thousands of years. As a verb, "to bog" means to sink into soft ground or, figuratively, to become stuck or hindered in progress. Bogs are ecological treasures, hosting unique plants like carnivorous sundews and pitcher plants that evolved to survive in nutrient-poor conditions. These wetlands act as natural carbon sinks, storing more carbon per acre than forests. Archaeological bogs have preserved ancient artifacts and even human bodies (bog bodies) for millennia due to their acidic, oxygen-poor environment.Common uses of bog:
The word bog comes from Irish and Scottish Gaelic bogach, meaning "soft ground" or "marsh." The Gaelic word derives from bog meaning "soft" or "moist." This Celtic origin reflects the abundance of bogs in Ireland and Scotland, where peat bogs have been central to rural life for millennia. The word entered English in the 16th century as English speakers encountered these distinctive wetlands in Celtic regions. The verb form "to bog down" emerged in the 18th century, originally describing horses and carts literally sinking into boggy ground. By the 19th century, this evolved into the figurative meaning of becoming stuck in any difficult situation. The British slang usage of "bog" for toilet appeared in the 18th century, possibly from the notion of a dirty, unpleasant place, or from "bog house"—outdoor toilets often built over boggy ground. This usage remains common in British and Australian English but is largely unknown in American English.
•Bog bodies from 2,000 years ago are perfectly preserved by acidic conditions
•Peat bogs cover 3% of Earth's land but store 30% of all soil carbon
•Cranberries grow naturally in bogs—hence cranberry bogs
•BOG forms BOGS, BOGGY, BOGGED, BOGGING—all valid Scrabble words
"The hikers got bogged down in the marshy terrain."
"The ancient bog preserved Viking artifacts for centuries."
"We're bogged down in paperwork and can't move forward."
Words with similar meaning
Swamp
Wetland area
Marsh
Wet lowland
Mire
Swampy ground
Quagmire
Soft boggy area
Words with opposite meaning
Desert
Dry land
Highland
Elevated terrain
Prairie
Dry grassland
Plateau
Flat highland
Plural Form
bogs
Multiple wetlands
Adjective Form
boggy
Like a bog; marshy
Past Tense
bogged
Got stuck
Related Forms
Wetland with peat soil
Berry cultivation area
Preserved human remains
3-letter words are game-changers:
Bogs are extraordinary ecosystems that preserve history. Their acidic, oxygen-poor conditions prevent decay, creating perfect time capsules. Bog bodies like Tollund Man (Denmark) and Lindow Man (England) provide stunning glimpses into Iron Age life. These naturally mummified remains retain skin, hair, and even stomach contents, revealing ancient diets and rituals. Bogs also preserve wooden artifacts, textiles, and pollen, allowing scientists to reconstruct prehistoric climates and vegetation.
Despite covering only 3% of Earth's land surface, peat bogs store twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined. This makes them crucial in fighting climate change. However, when bogs are drained for agriculture or development, they release stored carbon, becoming major greenhouse gas sources. Ireland's bogs alone store 1.5 billion tons of carbon. Protecting and restoring bogs is now recognized as one of the most cost-effective climate solutions available.
In Ireland, bogs shaped culture for millennia. Turf (dried peat) heated homes and cooked food for generations. "Saving the turf" was annual community work, with families cutting, drying, and stacking peat for winter fuel. Irish literature celebrates bog landscapes— Seamus Heaney's bog poems explore how these wetlands preserve both objects and memories. Today, while mechanical peat extraction threatens bogs, cultural appreciation grows, with bog walks, conservation efforts, and recognition of their irreplaceable heritage value.
Bog vs. Swamp
Acidic peat vs. wooded wetland
Bog vs. Marsh
Peat moss vs. grassy wetland
Bog vs. Fen
Acidic vs. alkaline wetland
SWAMP
Wooded wetland
MARSH
Grassy wetland
MIRE
Swampy ground
FEN
Alkaline wetland
PEAT
Decomposed plants
MOSS
Bog plant
MUD
Wet earth
QUAGMIRE
Soft boggy area
WETLAND
Water-saturated land
SLOUGH
Swampy place
Total base points: 6 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 2
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like BOG