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definitions

hocus

[hoh-kuh s]
See more synonyms for hocus on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), ho·cused, ho·cus·ing or (especially British) ho·cussed, ho·cus·sing.
  1. to play a trick on; hoax; cheat.
  2. to stupefy with drugged liquor.
  3. to drug (liquor).

Origin of hocus

First recorded in 1665–75; short for hocus-pocus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hocus

abracadabra, mystification, nonsense, hoax, incantation, cant, artifice, jargon, cheating, deception, trickery, imposture, delusion, spell, flimflam, chicanery, charm, deceit, swindle, humbug

Examples from the Web for hocus

Contemporary Examples of hocus

Historical Examples of hocus

  • Hocus loved her best, believing her to be his own, got upon the body of Mrs. Bull.

  • In his most impressive style he undertook to administer a solemn rebuke for the use of such words as jockey and hocus.

    Lord Randolph Churchill

    Winston Spencer Churchill

  • Hocus pocus, gipsy words of magic, similar to the modern presto fly.

    The Slang Dictionary

    John Camden Hotten

  • A good swinging sum of John's readiest cash went towards building of Hocus's country house.

  • This has been Hocus's constant language, and I am sure he has had obligations enough to us to have acted another part.

British Dictionary definitions for hocus

hocus

verb -cuses, -cusing, -cused, -cuses, -cussing or -cussed (tr) rare
  1. to take in; trick
  2. to stupefy, esp with a drug
  3. to add a drug to (a drink)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012