The chauffeur? That's bizarre. I can well imagine that a child would become terrorized by such a word, because children have vivid imaginations, and there is no fear like fear of the unknown.

I made up a name for a mythical horror when I was a kid. I called it "the Quanderer". Just what it was was not clear, but it was some sort of terrifying and totally deadly monster that lurked in the shadows and might strike at any moment.