hocus-pocuser
nounEtymology From hocus-pocus + -er.
1
One who hocus-pocuses.
- Such may be the interpretation of this phrase; and such may be the sense in which thousands of democrats will take it; but such is not the sense in which the Texas hocus pocusers mean it.1844 August 3, “The Presidential Campaign”, in Niles’ National Register, volume LXVI, number 1,714, Baltimore, Md., page 371, column 2:
- Old Plu had promised, as per Admiral Fitzroy’s patent hocus-pocusser, to give us a taste of his quality; and it is unnecessary, in this connection, to observe that the venerable disciple of Swithin the Saint was as good as his word.1890 July 26, “O’Flaherty in England. Arrival of the Champion. His Reception. What he Thinks of England.”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, volume XCIX, London: […] the Office, […], page 48, column 1:
4 more examples
- And when they make the still further complaint that unless they worm their way into the personal favor of the reviewers by hocus-pocus of one sort or another, such as seeking advice on actors, beseeching a conference over a play manuscript, u. s. w., they will receive treatment not so kind as that vouchsafed a more proficient hocus-pocuser, they say, too, what may or may not, for aught I know, be true.1925, George Jean Nathan, “The House of Satan”, in The American Mercury, page 501, columns 1–2:
- A well-known movie actress (who rose to fame in the last year) just bought up her old negatives from M. Korman, the hocus-pocusser. They included several nudes …1940 March 15, Walter Winchell, “On Broadway”, in The Dayton Herald, volume LXI, number 64, Dayton, Oh., page 38, column 8:
- Howard Brooks, the hocus pocuser at Esquire, will break in one new trick and two new gags next week …1941 February 1, “Terry Lawlor Opens At Esquire Tonight; Ruth Petty At Dempsey’s; More Club News”, in Miami Daily News, volume XLVI, number 52, Miami, Fla., page 7, column 5:
- YOUR SENTRY on the Dawn Patrol will have a very tough time of it this evening. It seems that everybody has suddenly decided on a new show. The Clover Club brings in an entirely new one, with the Velero sisters, the hocus pocusser Guili-Guili and others.1942 February 13, Jack Kofoed, “The Night Watch: I Need Roller Skates”, in Miami Daily News, volume XLVII, number 65, Miami, Fla., page 5B, column 1: