Forms: 5 lygarde de mayne, lechardemane, legerdemayn, 6 legerdemane, -dymeyne, -du-maine, -dimeane, ledgerdemaine, -mayne, ligier de meyne, -demayne, du mayne, legier du mane, ligerdemayne, lieger-du-mayne, liger, legyier, lygier demaine, 6–7 legerdemaine, -mayne, -mane, legierdemain(e, -dumain(e, leigerdumain, -demaine, 7 leger du main, mein, leiger du mayn, legger-, legeirdemaine, 8 leidger demain, 6– legerdemain (in 6–8 written as two or three words, and with hyphens). [a. F. léger de main, lit. ‘light of hand’: cf. LEGER a.]
1. Sleight of hand; the performance of tricks which by nimble action deceive the eye; jugglery; conjuring tricks.
14[?]. Lydg., Daunce of Macabre. Lygarde-de-mayne now helpith me right noughte.
c. 1475. Cath. Angl., 212/2 (Add. MS.). To play lechardemane, pancraciari.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 114. O churche men are wyly foxes More crafty then iuggelers boxes To play ligier du mayne teached.
1562. Bulleyn, Bk. Simples, 30 a. Many Inkepers with their hostlers through a cast of legerdemain: can make a pecke of draffe and Beanes, buye three bushelles of cleane Pease or Beanes.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIII. xxii. (1886), 263. The true art … of juggling consisteth in legierdemaine; to wit, the nimble conveiance of the hand.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. ix. 13. For he in slights and jugling feates did flow, And of legierdemayne the mysteries did know.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Legeirdemaine, light-handednesse, craftie slights, and conueiance.
1622. Beaum. & Fl., Beggar’s Bush, III. i. Will ye see any feates of activity, Some sleight of hand, leigerdemaine?
1707. Farquhar, Beaux Strat., V. v. What’s here? Legerdemain! By this light, my lord, our money again!
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 220. The name of a magician … has … been assumed and abused by masters of leger de main.
1817. Coleridge, Biog. Lit., 116. The professors of legerdemain at our village fairs, pull out ribbon after ribbon from their mouth.
1856. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, II. ii. 115. The legerdemain of the skilful trickster who deceives our very senses.
2. transf. and fig. Trickery, deception, hocus-pocus.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 639/2. Hys lygier demaine in stealing.
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 529. Wel may we iest at your vnhandsome and open legierdumaine, that so vainly seeke to blinde vs with a painted shadow of the Spirit of God.
1679. Hist. Jetzer, 13. This whole business was nothing but pure Legerdemain and Knavery.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. Advice to Author, I. i. 155. There is a certain Knack or Legerdemain in argument.
1796. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, vii. 134. By this sort of legerdemain, some fine estates are juggled into France.
1823. Lingard, Hist. Eng., VI. 282. The theological legerdemain, by which Cranmer pretended to nullify the oath of obedience … to the pontiff.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 134. We are inclined to regard the treatment of them [paradoxes] … as a mere legerdemain of words.
† b. An instance of this; a trick, a juggle. Obs.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. I iv. Theyr preuy legerdemaines wer not muche to be trusted.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 119. I would not that all Women should take Pepper in the nose, in that I have disclosed the legerdemaines of a few.
1625. Gonsalvio’s Sp. Inquis., Contents, The treacheries and legerdemaines of the Inquisition in practice and exercise.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 48. He must with his Eyes follow … the line wherewith the Joyners work is measured, that it be not let slide through the Measurers fingers, since … a Leger de Mayne may be prejudicial to the paymasters purse.
† 3. A sleight-of-hand performer, a conjurer. Obs. rare–1.
1695. Cibber, Love’s Last Shift, II. (1696), 25. The Fool diverted me and I gave him my hand, as I wou’d lend my Mony, Fan, or Hankerchief to a Legerdemain, that I might see him play all his Tricks over.
4. attrib. or as adj. Pertaining to or of the nature of legerdemain or jugglery; juggling; tricky.
1576. Newton, Lemnie’s Complex., II. ii. 101. Some Iuglers, & Legier du maine players.
1683. Dryden, Life Plutarch, Ded. 25. These legerdemain authors are for telling stories to keep their tricks undiscover’d.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 91. Jugglers, who show Legerdemain Tricks.
1742. Lond. & Country Brewer, I. (ed. 4), 39. In such a Legerdemain Manner, as gulled and infatuated the ignorant Drinker.
1760. J. Rutty, Spirit. Diary (ed. 2), 171. A legerdemain-man getting four guineas a day.
1812. Southey, in Q. Rev., VIII. 96. Phantasmagoric and legerdemain miracles.
1836. J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., ii. (1852), 47. The legerdemain kind of criticism resorted to by our adversaries.
Hence † Legerdemain v. intr. (also with it), to perform tricks, to use deceit; Legerdemainish a., resembling that of legerdemain; Legerdemainist, a performer of legerdemain, a conjurer.
1483. Cath. Angl., 212/2. To Legerdemayn … pancraciari.
a. 1678. Marvell, Hist. Poem, in Poems Affairs State (1697), 99. Baal’s wretched Curates Legerdemain’d it so, And never durst their Tricks above-board shew.
18[?]. Worcester 1860 (citing Observer), Legerdemainist.
1877. F. C. Burnand, Ride to Khiva, 10. You know what a good Legerdemainist I am.
1888. Sat. Rev., 21 Jan., 71. No one ever performed that operation in a more legerdemainish fashion.
1891. Critic (U.S.), 31 Jan., 57/2. The handkerchief tricks of the legerdemainist.
