HOCUS-POCUS

n. & v.

--n.

1. deception; trickery.

2 a typical verbal formula used in conjuring.

--v. (-pocussed, -pocussing; US -pocused, -pocusing)

1. intr. (often foll. by with) play tricks.

2 tr. play tricks on, deceive.

Etymology: 17th-c. sham L