The Rice University Neologisms Database

A person, especially a gay man, who eroticizes AIDS and seeks to contract the HIV virus by having unprotected sex. ('In recent years, there has been an outburst of bug chasers.') Interpretation of intended meaning: A person, especially a gay male, who eroticizes AIDS and seeks to contract the HIV virus through the practice of unprotected sex. Presumed reason for coinage: The phenomenon of BUG CHASING is a new one, and there was no compact and precise way to refer to it. The two elements chosen each came with an established metaphor fitting for the job. Linking them together to form the new word was probably quite natural. Notes: The BUG component refers to the HIV virus. An analogy is made between two small, mobile creatures with negative connotations. CHASE is another analogy. It refers to the action of the person. By having unprotected sex, he seeks and pursues the HIV virus, or BUG, much the way a wooing lover is said to "chase" his lady. The -ER ending takes the usual meaning of "person/thing acting." The separation of the two main components follows the general rule that when at least one of the two elements is more than one syllable long, the words of the compound will tend to be written separately.