Locofoco

[loh-koh-foh-koh]

See more synonyms for Locofoco on Thesaurus.com

noun

(sometimes lowercase) a member of the radical faction of the New York City Democrats, organized in 1835 to oppose the conservative members of the party.
(lowercase) a friction match or cigar developed in the 19th century, ignited by rubbing against any hard, dry surface.

Origin of Locofoco

special use of locofoco (cigar), self-lighting, rhyming compound apparently based on loco(motive), taken to mean self-moving; -foco, alteration of Italian fuoco fire < Latin focus fireplace

Examples from the Web for locofoco

Historical Examples

But now, should you go thither to seek him, you would inquire in vain for the Locofoco Surveyor.
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Four or five years afterward their enemies invented for their benefit the meaningless and hideous word "Locofoco."
The Life Of Abraham Lincoln
Ward H. Lamon
A Locofoco is the only intelligible term: a fellow that would set any place on fire to roast his own eggs.
Gryll Grange
Thomas Love Peacock
You would find a Locofoco majority as much addicted to Class Legislation as a factitious aristocracy.
Coningsby
Benjamin Disraeli

Locofoco

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Examples from the Web for locofoco

Historical Examples

But now, should you go thither to seek him, you would inquire in vain for the Locofoco Surveyor.

Four or five years afterward their enemies invented for their benefit the meaningless and hideous word "Locofoco."

A Locofoco is the only intelligible term: a fellow that would set any place on fire to roast his own eggs.

You would find a Locofoco majority as much addicted to Class Legislation as a factitious aristocracy.

Origin of Locofoco