HUMBUG

I. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1751 1. something designed to deceive and mislead, a willfully false, deceptive, or insincere person, an attitude or spirit of pretense and deception, nonsense , drivel , a hard usually mint-flavored candy, see: imposture ~gery noun II. verb (~ged; ~ging) Date: 1751 transitive verb deceive , hoax , intransitive verb to engage in a hoax or deception