hoky-poky

comparative more hoky-poky · superlative most hoky-poky

1. Fraudulent; trickish.

   Such a funny, sporty, gamy, jesty, joky, hoky-poky lad, is the Ocean, oh!

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “chapter 119, The Candles”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

   1 more example

   And that hoky-poky owner smiled a grim and sordid smile / As he saw his vessel vanish round a corner of the isle !

   1876, Benjamin D-------, his little dinner

1. alternativeAlternative form of hokey pokey (“frozen snack”).

   1 more example

   No person, firm or corporation shall see, exchange or deliver, or have in his or their possession with intent to sell, exchange or deliver, any ice cream, ice milk, hoky poky or frozen substance of which milk or cream containing less than twelve (12) per cent of butter fat shall form a component part […]

   1909, Charter and devised ordinances of Kansas City