Bauk (mythology)
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Bauk (Serbian: Баук, Serbian pronunciation: [bauk]) is an animal-like mythical creature in Serbian mythology.[1] The bauk is described as hiding in dark places, holes, or abandoned houses, waiting to grab, carry away, and devour its victim; but it can be scared away by light and noise.[1] It has a clumsy gait (called bauljanje), and its onomatopoeia is bau (Serbian pronunciation: [bau]).[1]
Interpretation of the bauk's attributes leads to the conclusion that the bauk is actually a description of real bears,[1] which were already regionally extinct in some parts of Serbia and known only as legend.[1] The word "bauk" was initially used as a hypocorism.[1]
