Hypertext Webster Gateway: "humbug"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Humbug \Hum"bug`\, n. [Prob. fr. hum to impose on, deceive + bug
a frightful object.]
1. An imposition under fair pretenses; something contrived in
order to deceive and mislead; a trick by cajolery; a hoax.
2. A spirit of deception; cajolery; trickishness.
3. One who deceives or misleads; a deceitful or trickish
fellow; an impostor. --Sir J. Stephen.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Humbug \Hum"bug`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Humbugged}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Humbugging}.]
To deceive; to impose; to cajole; to hoax.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
humbug
n 1: pretentious or silly talk or writing [syn: {baloney}, {boloney},
{bilgewater}, {bosh}, {drool}, {taradiddle}, {tarradiddle},
{tommyrot}, {tosh}, {twaddle}]
2: something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended
to gain an advantage [syn: {fraud}, {fraudulence}, {dupery},
{hoax}, {put-on}]
v : trick or deceive
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