English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ]

Derivative of 17th-century vernacular bam (“to trick, to con”), which is a derivative of bam in noun use (fraudster, cheat). Possibly from French embobiner

Pronunciation [ edit ]

Verb [ edit ]

bamboozle (third-person singular simple present bamboozles, present participle bamboozling, simple past and past participle bamboozled)

( transitive , informal ) To con, defraud, trick, to make a fool of, to humbug or impose on someone. 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 19 “Look here, friend,” said I, “if you have anything important to tell us, out with it; but if you are only trying to bamboozle us, you are mistaken in your game; that’s all I have to say.” ( transitive , informal ) To confuse, frustrate or perplex. He's completely bamboozled by the changes in the computer system.

Translations [ edit ]