humbug

ˈhʌmbʌɡ

3 definitions

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#1·15h ago

(countable, slang) A hoax, jest, or prank.

The universal jester: or, a pocket companion for the wits. Being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious Drolleries, humorous Waggeries, smart Repartees, pleasant Jokes, Clenchers, Closures, Bon Mots, and Humbugs; comic Stories,…

Origin: Origin ; the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) states that “the facts as to its origin appear to have been lost, even before the word became common enough to excite attention”. It has been suggested that the word possibly derives from (slang) An obvious lie, or from (dialectal and slang) to cajole; delude; impose on + a goblin, a spectre. In his Slang Dictionary (1864), English bibliophile and publisher John Camden Hotten (1832–1873) suggested a link to the name of the German city of Hamburg, “from which town so many false bulletins and reports came during the war in the last century”, or alt. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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#2·15h ago

(countable, slang) A fraud or sham; (uncountable) hypocrisy.

The profeſſor of the modern Humbugg, for ſuch is the polite name of this qualification, muſt either have from nature an unalterable countenance, or from art a power of commanding all its ſucceſſive variations, and preſerving it inviolabl…

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#3·15h ago

(countable, slang) A cheat, fraudster, or hypocrite.

Look at the affairs of nations on the widest scale—look at their intercourse with each other—look at the manifestoes, by which war is declared—look at the treaties, by which peace is restored—look at the professions of kings, or popes, o…

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