Hoodoo
/ˈhuːduː/noun
A system of African American folk magic and spiritual practice; also, something or someone considered unlucky or jinxed.
Did you know?The word hoodoo is first recorded in 19th-century American English for a jinx or unlucky charm, and only later became associated with African American folk magic, showing how words can be pulled into the supernatural by culture.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
hoodoo
“An unlucky charm, jinx, or source of bad luck”
19th Century
English
hoodoo
“A deceptive or fraudulent person or thing; a trick”
Late 19th Century
English
hoodoo
“African American folk magic or spiritual practice, especially in the Southern United States”
Modern English
English
hoodoo
“A form of folk magic; also, a jinx or unlucky influence”