Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1793-1819, 1928
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HOCUS, n. Also hocas, hokas. A stupid person, a fool, simpleton (Sc. 1808 Jam.); a stupid or ill-mannered woman (Cai. 1957).Sc. 1793 “Tam Thrum” Look before ye Loup 26:
If your father leaves you a gude house, worth may be four or five hunder pound, ye wou'd be a great hocus if you wou'd ding't down because it was na o' your ain biggin'.Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays 122:
D'ye think that I'm sic a big hocus to lat you awa for twa guineas.Cai.1 1928:
Dancin' on a hillag like a hokas.
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"Hocus n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hocus>
