HUMBUG

humbug, an imposture, sham, fraud. the word seems to have been originally applied to a trick or hoax, and appears as a slang term about 1750. according to the _new english dictionary_, ferdinando killigrew's _the universal jester_, which contains the word in its sub-title "a choice collection of many conceits ... bonmots and humbugs," was published in 1754, not, as is often stated, in 1735-1740. the principal passage in reference to the introduction of the word occurs in _the student_, 1750-1751, ii. 41, where it is called "a word very much in vogue with the people of taste and fashion." the origin appears to have been unknown at that date. skeat connects it (_etym. dict._ 1898) with "hum," to murmur applause, hence flatter, trick, cajole, and "bug," bogey, spectre, the word thus meaning a false alarm. many fanciful conjectures have been made, e.g. from irish _uim-bog_, soft copper, worthless as opposed to sterling money; from "hamburg," as the centre from which false coins came into england during the napoleonic wars; and from the italian _uomo bugiardo_, lying man.