Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To deceive or swindle by deception. synonym: deceive.
  • transitive verb Archaic To blindfold.
  • transitive verb Obsolete To conceal.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Disguise; concealment.
  • To blind by covering the eyes; blindfold.
  • To cover; hide.
  • To blind mentally; deceive by disguise; impose upon.
  • Synonyms See deceive.

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

  • transitive verb To blind by covering the eyes.
  • transitive verb obsolete To cover; to hide.
  • transitive verb To deceive by false appearance; to impose upon.

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

  • verb archaic To cover the eyes with a hood; to blindfold.
  • verb To deceive or trick.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb influence by slyness
  • verb conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

hood +‎ wink

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Examples

  • And even then it was uncommon because of the profoundly negative connotations blindfolds carried for medieval and Renaissance audiences, who viewed them as emblems not of impartiality but of deception hence the early use of the word hoodwink as a noun, meaning a blindfold or hood.

    NYT > Home Page By RANDY KENNEDY 2010

  • And even then it was uncommon because of the profoundly negative connotations blindfolds carried for medieval and Renaissance audiences, who viewed them as emblems not of impartiality but of deception hence the early use of the word hoodwink as a noun, meaning a blindfold or hood.

    NYT > Home Page By RANDY KENNEDY 2010

  • Will Obama crack under pressure within 100 days in office? survey said that most obama voters do not know what the word hoodwink means?

    Yahoo! Answers: Latest Questions 2008

  • We're also against annuities that are sold by unscrupulous salespersons who sometimes "hoodwink" (often older) investors into investing with them by providing false or misleading information about the annuity products they're selling.

    For Some Retirees, This Annuity Makes Sense 2010

  • Don't let him "hoodwink" you or "bamboozle" you with his clever shell game, Barack.

    McCain says Obama's Iraq trip would convince him of success 2008

  • Typical white person who is sick of this closet racist, America hating bigot trying to "hoodwink" the American people. shawn

    Obama campaign makes general election plans 2008

  • I like Obama because he uses words like "hoodwink" and "bamboozle" in political speeches.

    Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009

  • I actually used "hoodwink" here on TPM the other day, specifically to describe what Hillary is doing.

    Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009

  • The "hoodwink" language makes a clear inference that they are dispespectful of the electorate (which is clearly true).

    Obama On Veep Talk: Clintons Are Trying To "Hoodwink" You 2009

  • I also find it interesting that Obama is characterizing Hillary's suggestion that the two would make a good unity ticket (with her on the top, naturally) as just an attempt to "hoodwink" and "bamboozle" voters.

    Top Obama Adviser: Hillary Must Remove Ferraro From Campaign 2009

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