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 hum-*buggeries 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 hum-*drum.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Hum-Drums or Hums, a Society of Gentlemen, who meet near the Charter-House, or at the Kings Head in St. John's Street. Less of mystery, and more of Pleasantry than the Free Masons.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. Monotony; tameness; dullness.
1823. Hints for Oxford, p. 63. Men of spirit must ever dislike the unleavened humdrum of its monkish constitution.
1893. The Nation, 13 July, p. 32, col. 1. We go so far with the adorers of home and humdrum.
3. (old).—The same as Humbug (q.v.).
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden (Grosart, Works, iii., 14). Whereof generous Dick (without humdrum be it spoken) I utterly despair of them.
4. (old).—A wife; also a husband.
Adj. Dull; tame; commonplace; monotonous.
1702. Vanbrugh, False Friend, ii. A very humdrum marriage this.
1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. ii., p. 6. Tho' it is their humdrum fashion To hate all musical precarion.
