hocus pocus etymology

Etymology:

• Hocus (noun): A juggler or magician, first recorded in the 1500s. Possibly derived from the common Celtic root huc meaning "to conjure."
• Pocus (adjective): Meaningless nonsense, first recorded in the 1500s. Origin unknown. Some scholars suggest it may be a distortion of "focus."

Meaning:

Hocus pocus refers to:

• Magic tricks: The words are often used to accompany a magical performance or illusion.
• Nonsense or empty talk: Hocus pocus can describe speech or writing that is meaningless or deceptive.

Origin:

The exact origin of the phrase "hocus pocus" is unknown, but there are several theories:

• Medieval Latin: Some believe it may have originated from a Latin phrase "Hoc est corpus" (This is the body), used during the Catholic Mass. Jugglers would supposedly parody the ritual by saying "Hocus pocus" and performing tricks.
• Dutch translator: Another theory suggests it came from a Dutch translation of a 1550s German play about a magician named Hokos Pokos.
• Gypsy cant: The phrase may also have its roots in the Gypsy language, where "hoka" meant "cheat" and "pokus" meant "bag."

Regardless of its uncertain origin, "hocus pocus" has become a widely recognized idiom for magic and nonsense.

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