1625. Jonson, Staple of News, ii. That was the old way, gossip, when Iniquity came in [on the stage] like Hokos Pokos, in a juggler’s jerkin, with false skirts, like the knave of clubs.
1634. Hocus Pocus Junior, The Anatomie of Leger de main. [Title].
1656. Blount, Glossographia, s.v. Hocus Pocus, a juggler, one that shows tricks by sleight of hand.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hocus-pocus, a Juggler that shews Tricks by Slight of Hand.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
3. (old).—A cheat; an imposition; a juggler’s trick.
1713. Bentley, Free Thinking, 12. Our author is playing hocus-pocus in the very similitude he takes from that juggler.
4. (old).—See Hocus, sense 2.
Adj. (old).—Cheating; fraudulent.
1715. Addison, The Drummer. If thou hast any hocus-pocus tricks to play, why can’st not do them here?