/loh'koh foh"koh/ , n.
1. ( sometimes l.c. ) a member of the radical faction of the New York City Democrats, organized in 1835 to oppose the conservative members of the party.
2. ( l.c. ) a friction match or cigar developed in the 19th century, ignited by rubbing against any hard, dry surface.
[ special use of locofoco (cigar), self-lighting, rhyming compound appar. based on LOCO(MOTIVE), taken to mean self-moving; -foco, alter. of It fuoco fire focus fireplace ]