Hocus-Pocus
/ˌhoʊkəs ˈpoʊkəs/noun
A phrase used by magicians to accompany a trick, or to describe nonsense or deceptive showmanship.
Did you know?The phrase was popularized in the 17th century as a magician’s patter, and one famous theory links it to a mock-Latin corruption of the Catholic Mass’s sacred words, though that origin is not certain.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
hocus-pocus
“A conjurer’s jingle or trick phrase used during sleight of hand”
17th Century
English
hocus
“A nonsense word used by jugglers and tricksters”
17th Century
English
pocus
“A rhyming addition used to complete the magician’s formula”
Possible 17th Century
Latin/English
hoc est corpus
“A proposed but uncertain source, often glossed as a mock rendering of the Latin words of the Mass”
Modern English
English
hocus-pocus
“A phrase for magic tricks, deceptive display, or empty nonsense”