subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A hoax; an imposture; a swindle.
1735–40. KILLIGREW, The Universal Jester; or a pocket companion for the Wits: being a choice collection of merry conceits, facetious drolleries, &c., clenchers, closers, closures, bon-mots, and HUM-BUGS [Title].
1754. The Connoisseur, No. 14. Single words, indeed, now and then broke forth; such as—odious, horrible, detestable, shocking, HUMBUG. This last new-coined expression, which is only to be found in the nonsensical vocabulary, sounds absurd and disagreeable whenever it is pronounced.
1762. CHURCHILL, The Ghost, bk. I., line 72.
| And that great saint we Whitefield call, | |
| Keeps up the HUMBUG spiritual. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1828. N. WEBSTER, English Dictionary, s.v.
2. Deceit; pretence; affectation.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Black Mousquetaire’ (ed. 1862), p. 239.
| That sort of address | |
| Which the British call ‘HUMBUG,’ and Frenchmen ‘Finesse,’ | |
| (It ’s ‘Blarney’ in Irish—I don’t know the Scotch). |
1842. DOUGLAS JERROLD, Bubbles of the Day, i. Skindeep. Smoke, never say HUMBUG; it’s coarse. Sir Phenix. And not respectable. Smoke. Pardon me, my lord; it was coarse. But the fact is, HUMBUG has received such high patronage, that now it’s quite classic.
3. A cheat; an impostor; a pretender. Also (old), HUMMER.
d. 1783. H. BROOKE, Poems (1776). ‘On Humbugging’ (CHALMERS, English Poets, 1810, xvii., 428). Our HUMMERS in state, physic, learning, and law.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. HUM. He is a HUMBUG that has recourse to the meanness. He wishes to be a bugaboo, or most exalted fool.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, ch. xxx. ‘You’re a HUMBUG, sir.’ ‘A what?’ said Mr. Winkle, starting. ‘A HUMBUG, sir. I will speak plainer, if you wish it. An imposter, sir.’
Verb. To hoax; to swindle; to cajole.
1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxxxv. He who seemed to be most afflicted of the two taking his departure with an exclamation of ‘HUMBUGGED, egad!’
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1826. The Fancy, ii., 77. We would not have the reader believe we mean to HUMBUG him—not for a moment.
1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch. xliii. She was always ready to help him, provided, as she told him, ‘he didn’t HUMBUG.’
Hence HUMBUGGING = hoaxing, swindling, or HUMBUGABLE = gullible. HUMBUGGERY = deception; imposture. HUMBUGGER = a cheat, a hoaxer.
d. 1783. H. BROOKE, Poems (1776). ‘On Humbugging’ (CHALMERS, English Poets, 1810, xvii., 428).
| Of all trades and arts in repute or possession, | |
| HUMBUGGING is held the most ancient profession. | |
| Idem. | |
| To yon roguish roung, the HUMBUGGERS of hearts. |
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xviii. The species of wit which has been long a favourite in the city, under the names of cross-biting, giving the dor, bamboozling, cramming, hoaxing, HUMBUGGING, and quizzing.
1825. SOUTHEY, Letters, iii., 488 [ed. WARTER, 1856]. My charity does not extend so far as to believe that any reasonable man (HUMBUGGABLE as the animal is) can have been so humbugged.
1826. The Fancy, ii., 29. A contemporary writer of eminence some years ago termed such exhibitions HUMBUGGING.
1840. THACKERAY, The Paris Sketch Book, p. 31. Do you not laugh, O Pharos of Bungay, at the continuance of a humbug such as this?—at the HUMBUGGING anniversary of a humbug?
1848. E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, ch. iv. Oh, blast your HUMBUGGERY—talk plain English to me.
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, ch. v. When the old lady was gone, Mr. Hobson had no need of any more HUMBUGGING, but took his pleasure freely.
1883. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, ch. xl., p. 369. Traces of its inflated language and other windy HUMBUGGERIES survive along with it.
