Unnumbered source etymology
Original entry ↗noun
Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory(An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate. · (An instance of) excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film, television programme, theater production, etc. · A film, television programme, theater production, etc., containing excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material. · A genre of blues song or music, often characterized by sexual innuendos or satire.
Uncertain; first attested as US theater slang, possibly a blend of hocus-pocus + bunkum.
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
- Blend componenthocus-pocusen
- Blend componentbunkumen
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
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"(An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate.",
"(An instance of) excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film, television programme, theater production, etc.",
"A film, television programme, theater production, etc., containing excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material.",
"A genre of blues song or music, often characterized by sexual innuendos or satire."
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