|
Here is what the SOED says:
humbug noun & verb. M18.
[ORIGIN Origin unkn.]
► A noun.
†1 A hoax, a trick. M–L18.
2 A deceiver; a fraud, a sham. M18.
G. K. Chesterton That old gentleman…—that venerable humbug was not really a philosopher. M. Schorer His announced purpose is, we admit, a pious humbug.
3 Deception, pretence; nonsense, rubbish. E19.
I. Murdoch The theatre is humbug. But who wants it to be like life, it's escape. A. L. Rowse This was Hitler's propaganda line, bemusing the British with humbug about his pacific intentions.
4 A boiled sweet, usu. peppermint-flavoured, with a chewy centre and coloured stripes, and freq. pillow-shaped. E19.
► B verb. Infl. -gg-.
1 verb trans. Delude (into doing); cheat or trick (out of something). M18.
J. M. Synge If it's not humbugging me you are, I'm thinking that I'll surely stay.
2 verb intrans. Deceive, cheat; be a fraud or sham. M18.
3 Flounder about, make poor progress. Chiefly local. US. M19.
humbuggable adjective E19. humbugger noun M18. humˈbuggery noun the action or practice of humbugging M19.
---------------------------------------------
I think that the modern day equivalent may be 'Scam'.
__________________
The Mad Landsman
|