d. 1783. Henry Brooke, Poems (1776). ‘On Humbugging.’ (Chalmers’
English Poets, 1810, xvii., 428). Our hummers in state, physic,
learning, and law.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. Hum. He is a humbug that has
recourse to the meanness. He wishes to be a bugaboo, or most
exalted fool.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxx. ‘You’re a humbug, sir.’ ‘A what?’
said Mr. Winkle, starting. ‘A humbug, sir. I will speak plainer, if
you wish it. An imposter, sir.’
Verb. To hoax; to swindle; to cajole.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxxxv. He who seemed to be
most afflicted of the two taking his departure with an exclamation
of ‘Humbugged, egad!’
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1826. The Fancy, ii., 77. We would not have the reader believe we
mean to humbug him—not for a moment.
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xliii. She was always ready to
help him, provided, as she told him, ‘he didn’t humbug.’
Hence Humbugging = hoaxing, swindling, or Humbugable = gullible.
Humbuggery = deception; imposture. Humbugger = a cheat, a hoaxer.
d. 1763. Henry Brooke, Poems (1778), ‘On Humbugging.’ (Chalmers,
English Poets, 1810, xvii., 428). Of all trades or arts in repute
or possession humbugging is held the most ancient profession. Idem.
To you, ... the humbuggers of hearts.
1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xviii. The species of wit which
has been long a favourite in the city, under the names of
cross-biting, giving the dor, bamboozling, cramming, hoaxing,
humbugging, and quizzing.
1825. Southey, Letters, iii., 488 [ed. Warter, 1856]. My charity
does not extend so far as to believe that any reasonable man
(humbuggable as the animal is) can have been so humbugged.
1826. The Fancy, ii., 29. A contemporary writer of eminence some
years ago termed such exhibitions humbugging.
1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch Book, p. 31. Do you not laugh, O
Pharos of Bungay, at the continuance of a humbug such as this?—at
the humbugging anniversary of a humbug?
1852. Judson, Myst., etc., of New York, ch. iv. Oh, blast your
humbuggery—talk plain English to me.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. v. When the old lady was gone, Mr.
Hobson had no need of any more humbugging, but took his pleasure
freely.
1883. Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, ch. xl., p. 369. Traces
of its inflated language and other windy humbuggeries survive along
with it.
Humdrum, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A tiresome dullard; a
steady-going, common-place person. See also quot. 1725.
1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, i., 1. By gads-lid I scorn
it, I, so I do, to be a consort for every humdrum.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hum-Drums or Hums, a Society of
Gentlemen, who meet near the Charter-House, or at the King’s Head
in St. John’s Street. Less of mystery, and more of Pleasantry than
the Free Masons.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.