hocus

verb

ho·cus ˈhō-kəs

hocussed or hocused; hocussing or hocusing

transitive verb

1

: to perpetrate a trick or hoax on : deceive

2

: to befuddle often with drugged liquor

also : dope, drug

hocussed the favorite before the race

Word History

Etymology

obsolete hocus, noun, short for hocus-pocus

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of hocus was in 1675

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Browse Nearby Words

hocs

hocus

hocus-pocus

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Hocus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hocus. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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