hoodoo

[hoo-doo]

noun

plural

hoodoos 

1. Hoodoo. African American folk magic practiced predominantly in the southeastern United States through rituals of protection, herbal medicine, charming of objects, and ancestor veneration.

2. (in popular culture) bad luck, or a person or thing that brings bad luck.

3. Geology.,  a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion.

verb (used with object)

hoodooed, hoodooing 

1. (in popular culture) to bring or cause bad luck to.

hoodoo

/ ˈhuːduː /

noun

1. a variant of voodoo

2. informal,  a person or thing that brings bad luck

3. informal,  bad luck

4. (in the western US and Canada) a strangely shaped column of rock

verb

1. informal,  (tr) to bring bad luck to

Other Word Forms

• hoodooism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoodoo¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; apparently a variant of Voodoo

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoodoo¹

C19: variant of _voodoo

Example Sentences

Townsend has won some big games and has ended some hoodoos.

Read more on BBC

Needless to say, the Scots will need to raise their level to have any hope of ending that 27-year hoodoo, so how does Clarke rouse his team for a seismic camp?

Read more on BBC

Seven times in five Tests Broad got Warner, part of an overall hoodoo of 17 dismissals.

Read more on BBC

Performance aside, with seven points on the board and bottom seeds Belarus to face at the weekend, Clarke's side have given themselves a great chance of ending the nation's 27-year World Cup hoodoo.

Read more on BBC

The Bulls have lost a second URC final in succession, having fallen to Glasgow last year, but it was Leinster's day as they got over their final hoodoo.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• magic 
• sorcery 
• witchcraft 
• worldview