Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A kind of self-lighting cigar: so called in New York in 1834.
  • noun A friction-match.
  • noun [capitalized] In United States history, one of the equal-rights or radical section of the Democratic party about 1835; by extension, in disparagement, any member of that party.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun U.S. A friction match.
  • noun U.S. A nickname formerly given to a member of the Democratic party.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic A match (used for making fire)

Etymologies

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Examples

  • So now, said Frazer, he was going for Polk—“the bosom friend of Old Hickory … the man who stood up in defence of the old hero during the panic session … the man who fought so bravely and so undauntingly the whigs of Tennessee—the pure, whole hog, locofoco democrat, who goes against … the ring-streaked and speckled whig party, with all its odious, abominable measures.”

    A Country of Vast Designs Robert W. Merry 2009

  • So now, said Frazer, he was going for Polk—“the bosom friend of Old Hickory … the man who stood up in defence of the old hero during the panic session … the man who fought so bravely and so undauntingly the whigs of Tennessee—the pure, whole hog, locofoco democrat, who goes against … the ring-streaked and speckled whig party, with all its odious, abominable measures.”

    A Country of Vast Designs Robert W. Merry 2009

  • The hopjoimt jerk of a ladle broom jig that he learned in locofoco when a redhot turnspite he.

    Finnegans Wake 2006

  • Page 143 of having a locofoco Governor, and the indelible disgrace of having chosen such a Chief Executive officer.

    Party Politics in North Carolina, 1835-1860 1916

  • Here's full particulars of the patriotic locofoco movement yesterday, in which the whigs was so chawed up; and the last Alabama gouging case; and the interesting Arkansas dooel with Bowie knives; and all the Political,

    Martin Chuzzlewit Charles Dickens 1841

  • locofoco: Iran is actually quite democratic to all of these with the possible exception of Pakistan.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Islamofascism: 2007

  • The convention was addressed by John Kerr, then making quite a reputation in the party as an orator because of his fiery denunciation of the Democrats in general and Reid in particular, Henry W. Miller, W.H. Rhodes, and, after his nomination, by Manly, who paid high tribute to the so-called "Raleigh Clique" of Whigs, saying among other things that "if the locofoco city of Sodom had had such a group it would have been saved."

    Party Politics in North Carolina, 1835-1860 1916

  • Here’s full particulars of the patriotic locofoco movement yesterday, in which the whigs was so chawed up; and the last Alabama gouging case; and the interesting Arkansas dooel with Bowie knives; and all the Political,

    The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit 2006

Comments

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  • A match or cigar which can be lit by friction on any rough surface (also called a lucifer match).

    May 12, 2008