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

Phrases Containing hocus

• hocus-pocus