To trick, to deceive.
1842. General! look sharp, or they’ll pull wool over your eyes yet.—Phila. Spirit of the Times, Sept. 29.
1843. The attempt of Mr. Darby to “pull the wool” over the eyes of the editor of the Republican proves clearly, &c.—Missouri Reporter, St. Louis, April 1.
1847. In short, I’m up to the whole ‘wool pulling’ system.—Robb, ‘Streaks of Squatter Life,’ &c., p. 16 (Phila.).
1850. Our neighbor, across the River, need not attempt to pull wool or fur over our eyes.—S. Judd, ‘Richard Edney,’ p. 151.
1854. If Reuben —— has n’t pulled the wool over your eyes, then I ’m no conjurer!—Knick. Mag., xliii. 95 (Jan.).
1856. [Some women will] come it over a fellow, and play the gum game on ’im, and pull the wool over his eyes, till they’ve done got him hooked.—Yale Lit. Mag., xxi. 149.
1858. Some may think [it is all right] … if they can only pull the wool over the Bishop’s eyes.—Orson Hyde in the Mormon Tabernacle, Jan. 3: ‘Journal of Discourses,’ vi. 157.
1861. We pulled the wool over their eyes by making them think we only intended to stay in the camp six days.—O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ ii. 161 (1863).
1862. You may love the niggers, Mr. Seckratary, as much as you want to, but don’t try to pull the wool over white folks’ eyes.—Seba Smith, ‘Letters of Major Jack Downing,’ June 8. (Italics in the original.)
