Scare-bug

Thus this godly martyr derided long since this Popish scare-bug of purgatory fire, making it inferior to the Bishop's prison.

Source: wiktionary

Bitten by the Bolsheviki scare-bug, the country at large seems to have gone mad, but in proposing to convert the Bolsheviki by teaching them English, whether they will or no, Senator Kenyon has plumbed a depth of fatuity almost incredible.

Source: wiktionary

There were countless stories over the years about how she would scream at the least little scare-bugs, someone saying boo, fake puke or someone just walking up behind her—and scream.

Source: wiktionary