subs. (old: now recognised).—A jest; a practical joke; a TAKE-IN. Originially (GROSE) university cant. [Probably from HOCUS (q.v.).]
1796. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (3rd Ed.), s.v.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. HOAXING. Bantering, ridiculing. HOAXING a quiz; joking an odd fellow. University wit.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. iii. Whose humble efforts at jocularity were chiefly confined to what were then called bites and bams, since denominated HOAXES and quizzes.
1835–7. RICHARDSON, Dictionary of the English Language, s.v. HOAX. Malone considers the modern slang HOAX as derived from hocus, and Archdeacon Nares agrees with him.
Verb. To play a practical joke; to ‘take-in’; to BITE (q.v.). See subs. sense. For synonyms, see GAMMON.
1812. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, Picturesque, xix.
| An arch young sprig, a banker’s clerk, | |
| Resolv’d to HOAX the rev’rend spark. |
1854. F. E. SMEDLEY, Harry Coverdale’s Courtship, ch. viii. I thought you were HOAXING us, and I sat down to play the duet for the amiable purpose of exposing your ignorance.
