hocus
nounEtymology Shortened from hocus-pocus. The verb is from the noun.
1
Obsolete A magician, illusionist, one who practises sleight of hand.
- Certainly he was the bravest Ambodexter of his time, and this blinded age, or that ever was among us dull Northern people; and among the multitude of his Tricks, I shall commend to the Hocusses of Bartholomew Fair, for their information and edification, this Legerdemain (for it is supposed it will hardly be practicable any more in the Pulpit;)1660, Don Pedro de Quixot, or in English the Right Reverend Hugh Peters, London: T. Smith:
- I called freely for what was in the house, which was readily brought me; but when the servants beheld with what cele[r]ity, (Hocus like) and cleanly conveyance, I had disposed of what was before me, they verily believed in one week, I would cause a dearth in the house […]1668, Richard Head, chapter 14, in The English Rogue Described, in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty Extravagant, London: Francis Kirkman, page 150:
1 more example
- 1689, Roger L’Estrange (translator), Twenty-Two Select Colloquies out of Erasmus Roterodamus, London: R. Bentley & R. Sare, p. 33, ’Tis rather to exercise our Curiosity, and keep us from Idleness, or worse Diversions, as running mad after Buffoons, Dice, Fortune-tellers, and Hocus’s, &c.
2
Obsolete One who cheats or deceives.
- 1685, Robert South, “A Sermon Preached at Christ-Church, Oxon, Before the University, May 3. 1685” in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bennett, 1692, p. 523, […] when thy Brother has lost all that ever he had, and lies languishing, and even gasping under the utmost extremities of poverty and distress, dost thou think thus to lick him whole again, only with thy Tongue? just like that old formal Hocus, who denyed a Beggar a farthing, and put him off with his Blessing.
- I have the Originals at This Present in my Hand, and there is the Paw of Tong and Otes so manifestly in the very Writing of them; as if they had not thought it worth the while to Disguise the Cheat. It was an Imposture, that their very Souls, Heads, Hearts, and Hands were All at Work upon; And the Forgery Vndeniable; only Tong Himself was the Master-Hocus.1687, Roger L’Estrange, chapter 6, in A Brief History of the Times, &c., London: Charles Brome, page 106:
3
Trick; trickery.
- As in almost every Chapter of his Book, so in this Seventh, he has a new Hocus to carry on his old design […]1665, William Johnson, Agyrto-Mastix, London: Henry Brome, page 30:
- The Jugler and the Judge, too, may complain, For both now strive to cheat the World in vain; In slight and shift and Trick they both agree, But a quick Eye may all their Hocus see:1693, Robert Gould, The Corruption of the Times by Money: A Satyr, London: Matthew Wotton, page 3:
2 more examples
- 1871, Benjamin Jowett, letter to Florence Nightingale dated 29 September, 1871, cited in Edward Tyas Cook, The Life of Florence Nightingale, London: Macmillan, 1913, Volume 2, Part 7, Chapter 1, p. 223, […] I do not agree with you in thinking that there are no difficulties, although the old difficulties, about the origin of evil &c., are generally a hocus of Theologians.
- He was amused by the uncompromising attitude that said to Goldfinger and to the room, ‘All men are bastards and cheats. Don’t try any masculine hocus on me. I don’t go for it. I’m in a separate league.’1959, Ian Fleming, chapter 17, in Goldfinger, London: Jonathan Cape:
4
Obsolete Drugged liquor.
- Related terms
- hocus-pocus