- skip - Brewer’s

Hoʹcus Poʹcus

.

The words uttered by a conjuror when he performs a trick, to cheat or take surreptitiously. The Welsh, hocea pwca (a goblin’s trick, our hoax) is a probable etymology. But generally supposed to be Hoc est oorpus.

⁂ Ochus Bochus was the name of a famous magician of the North invoked by jugglers. He is mentioned in the French Royal Dictionary.

 

previous entry · index · next entry

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

previous entry · index · next entry

Hobnail
Hob Nob
Hob’s Pound
Hobson’s Choice
Hock
Hock Cart
Hock-day or Hock Tuesday
Hockey
Hocking
Hockley-i-the-Hole
Hocus Pocus
Hocussed
Hodeken
Hodge
Hodge-podge
Hodur
Hog
Hog
Hogs-Norton
Hog in Armour
Hogg