hornswogglev.
/ˈhɔːnswɒɡ(ə)l/ colloquial (originally U.S.).
transitive. To get the better of; to cheat or swindle; to hoodwink, humbug, bamboozle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > treat fraudulently, cheat [verb (transitive)] > induce by deception > and humbug
fig1692
humbug1761
bother1803
gammon1821
hornswoggle1829
bosh1870
crap1928
1829 Virginia Lit. Museum 30 Dec. 458 Hornswoggle, to embarrass irretrievably.
1834 W. A. Caruthers Kentuckian in N.Y. I. 61 I wish I may be horn swoggled, if ever I thought [etc.].
1860 Oregon Argus 12 May P. F. is going to hornswoggle the Douglas Democrats.
1904 Boston Herald 27 June 6 One practical working theory in advertising circles is that the ad's chief function is to hornswoggle the consumer.
1911 H. Quick Yellowstone Nights iii. 82 If you'll stand by..and see your old father hornswoggled out of his eye-teeth you'll never see a cent of my money.
1958 Spectator 11 Apr. 448/3 I am sure the manufacturers hornswoggle us and sell us a lot of useless trim and gadgets.
1968 Guardian 28 Feb. 18/8 In this wretched week we get a report from the Government Actuary which is quoted to hornswoggle us into increased insurance contributions.
1970 Sunday Times 28 June 11/3 The Americans look for value; you can't..hornswoggle them.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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