v. t. [ See Hocus-pocus. ] 1. To deceive or cheat. Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To adulterate; to drug; as, liquor is said to be hocused for the purpose of stupefying the drinker. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To stupefy with drugged liquor. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who cheats or deceives. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Drugged liquor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. invented by jugglers in imitation of Latin. Cf. Hoax, Hocus. ] 1. A term used by magicians or conjurers in pretended incantations. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A juggler or trickster. [ Archaic ] Sir T. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A magician's trick; a cheat; nonsense. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Obfuscating talk or elaborate but meaningless activity intended to hide a deception or to obscure what is actually happening; verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way.
Syn. -- trickery, slickness, hanky panky, jiggery-pokery, skulduggery, skullduggery. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

v. t. To cheat. [ Colloq. ] L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]