▪ I. bamboozle, v.
(bæmˈbuːz(ə)l)
Also 8 bambouzle.
[Appears about 1700; mentioned in the Tatler No. 230 (on ‘the continual Corruption of our English Tongue’) among other slang terms (banter, put, kidney, sham, mob, bubble, bully, etc.) recently invented or brought into vogue. Prob. therefore of cant origin; the statement that it is a Gipsy word wants proof. Cf. the similar bom-, bumbaze, in Sc. writers since c 1725, and bam.]
1. trans. To deceive by trickery, hoax, cozen, impose upon.
| 1703 Cibber She wou'd, etc. ii. i. (1736) 34 Sham Proofs, that they propos'd to bamboozle me with. 1710 Swift Tatler No. 230 ¶7 Certain Words invented by some pretty Fellows, such as Banter, Bamboozle, Country Put..some of which are now struggling for the vogue. 1847 Barham St. Cuthb. in Ingol. Leg. (1877) 217 It's supposed by this trick he bamboozled Old Nick. |
b. absol. or intr. To practise trickery.
| 1703 Cibber She wou'd, etc. iv. i, The old Rogue..knows how to Bamboozle. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. ix. 143 You wouldn't even bamboozle a little at a bazaar. |
2. To mystify, perplex, confound.
| 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull (1755) 89 After Nic. had bambouzled John a while about the 18,000 and the 28,000. 1854 Mrs. Gaskell North & S. xl, He fairly bamboozles me. He is two chaps. |
3. to bamboozle away: to get rid of by bamboozling. to bamboozle into: to persuade to a belief or course of action by bamboozling. to bamboozle out of: to take away (something) trickily from (a person). Cf. argue v. 8, 9.
| 1716 Rowe Biter i. i. 19 You intend to bambouzle me out of a Beef Stake. 1728 Earbery tr. Burnet's St. Dead I. 89 The Gnosticks bambouzled away all the Corporeal resurrection. 1878 Black Green Past. xli. 326 Who has bamboozled himself into the erroneous belief that, etc. |
▪ II. bamˈboozle, n.
[f. prec.]
Bamboozling.
| 1703 Cibber She wou'd, etc. iv. i. (1736) 53 I'll have a touch of the Bamboozle with him. 1861 Sat. Rev. 16 Feb. 6/2 Government by bamboozle always presents considerable advantages at first sight. |