humbug Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun pretentious or silly talk or writing
taradiddle; boloney; bilgewater; tarradiddle; tosh; bosh; baloney; drool; tommyrot; twaddle.
noun communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive
snake oil.
noun something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage
fraud; hoax; fraudulence; dupery; put-on.
verb trick or deceive

Prob. fr. hum to impose on, deceive + bug a frightful object.

An imposition under fair pretenses; something contrived in order to deceive and mislead; a trick by cajolery; a hoax.
A spirit of deception; cajolery; trickishness.
One who deceives or misleads; a deceitful or trickish fellow; an impostor. Sir J. Stephen.

imperfect & past participle Humbugged ; present participle & verbal noun Humbugging