Hogen Mogen, n. and a.
(ˌhəʊgən ˈməʊgən)
Forms: 7 Hoghan Moghan, (Hogin Mogin), 7–8 Hoghen-Moghen, 7–8 Hogan Mogan, Hogen Mogen.
[A popular corruption or perversion of the Dutch Hoogmogendheiden, ‘High Mightinesses’, the title of the States-General.
Obsolete in all senses, exc. perhaps A 2, B 1; and these are rare. In transf. senses sometimes with small initial letters.]
A. n.
† 1. ‘Their High Mightinesses’, the States-General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Cf. mightiness. Obs.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. (1655) II. xiv. 26 The Hoghen Moghen are very exact in their polemical government. 1657 ― Londinop. 390 The Hague subsists by the residence of the Hoghen-Moghen, the Council of State. 1678 Butler Hud. 1440, I have sent him for a Token To your Low-Country Hogen-Mogen. 1685 Mischief Cabals 4 The Hoghen-Moghen scorn'd to accept of any thing. |
2. Hence, The Dutch; a Dutchman: contemptuous.
| 1672 W. de Britaine Dutch Usurp. 25 The Hogan Mogans..did warm their hands at those unhappy flames. 1752 J. MacSparran Amer. Dissected (1753) 19 King Charles the Second sent Sir Robert Carr..who soon subdued Hogan Mogan, and wrested this Country [New York] out of these Hollanders Hands. 1823 Scott Peveril xxii, I have seen thee wave thy whinyard at the throat of a Hogan-mogan—a Netherlandish weasand. |
† 3. transf. Any grandee or high and mighty person: used humorously or contemptuously of a person in power or who arrogates or affects authority.
| 1638 Ford Lady's Trial ii. i, Guy. Here are lords too, we take it..Ful...Tag, rag, or other, hogen-mogen, vanden, Skip-jacks, or choruses. 1649 C. Walker Hist. Independ., White-hall..where our Hogens Mogens or Councell of State sit. 1658–9 Burton's Diary (1828) IV. 222 [He] told Sir Arthur Haslerigge that it was he that endeavoured to make himself and Sir Henry Vane the great Hogen Mogens, to rule the Commonwealth. 1713 Darrell Gentlem. Instr. iii. iii. 394 The Temple and Gray's-Inn have declar'd me a publick Enemy to the Hoghen Moghen learn'd in the Law. |
B. attrib. and adj.
1. Dutch. (contemptuous.)
| a 1658 Cleveland Gen. Poems etc. (1677) 99 A kind of Dutch Hotch-Potch, the Hogan Mogan Committee-man. a 1704 T. Brown Wks. (1760) IV. 122 (D.) Are..our armies commanded by hogan-mogan generals that hate our nation? 1753 Smart in Anderson's Poets XI. 166 A snub-nos'd dog, to fat inclin'd, Of the true hogan-mogan kind. 1842 United Service Mag. i. 2 Their hogen-mogen admirers—les braves Belges. |
† 2. High and mighty. (Often contemptuous.)
| 1648 Needham Mercurius Pragmat. No. 7 G j b (Stanf.), Come creeping to the Hogan Mogan States of Westminster. 1676 Baker in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 3 Yet dare I not arrogate..that Hogun Mogun title of Magnus Apollonius. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. i. xii. (1721) 12 The Hogen Mogen States of Venice. |
† 3. Strong, heady (of drink): cf. hogan n. 2. hogan mogan rug, a strong drink: see rug. Obs.
| 1653 J. Taylor (Water P.) Cert. Trav. of Uncert. Journ. Wks. (1872) 11 There was a high and mighty drink call'd Rug..Hogen Mogen Rugs, great influences To provoke sleep. 1663 Dryden Wild Gallant i. ii, I was drunk; damnably drunk with ale; great hogan-mogan bloody ale. |