Locofoco

Locofoco
Locofoco Lo`co*fo"co, n. [Of uncertain etymol.; perh. for L. loco foci instead of fire; or, according to Bartlett, it was called so from a self-lighting cigar, with a match composition at the end, invented in 1834 by John Marck of New York, and called by him locofoco cigar, in imitation of the word locomotive, which by the uneducated was supposed to mean, self-moving.] 1. A friction match. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]

2. A nickname formerly given to a member of the Democratic party. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]

Note: The name was first applied, in 1834, to a portion of the Democratic party, because, at a meeting in Tammany Hall, New York, in which there was great diversity of sentiment, the chairman left his seat, and the lights were extinguished, for the purpose of dissolving the meeting; when those who were opposed to an adjournment produced locofoco matches, rekindled the lights, continued the meeting, and accomplished their object. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • locofoco — ☆ locofoco [lō΄kō fō′kō ] n. pl. locofocos [coined ( c. 1834) after LOCO(MOTIVE), interpreted as “self (moving)” + It fuoco, fire < L focus: see FOCUS: sense 2 from the use of such matches in Tammany Hall, Oct. 22, 1835, by one faction to… …   English World dictionary

  • locofoco — Lucifer Lu ci*fer, n. [L., bringing light, n., the morning star, fr. lux, lucis, light + ferre to bring.] [1913 Webster] 1. The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; applied in Isaiah by a metaphor to a king of Babylon. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • locofoco — ˌlōkōˈfō(ˌ)kō noun ( s) Etymology: probably from locomotive (I) (self propelled) + Italian foco, fuoco fire, from Latin focus fireplace, hearth more at focus 1. : a match or cigar developed during the 19th century and capable of being ignited by… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Locofoco — noun (plural focos) Etymology: locofoco, a kind of friction match, probably from 1locomotive + Italian fuoco, foco fire, from Latin focus hearth Date: 1835 1. a member of a radical group of New York Democrats organized in 1835 in opposition to… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Locofoco — /loh koh foh koh/, n. 1. (sometimes l.c.) a member of the radical faction of the New York City Democrats, organized in 1835 to oppose the conservative members of the party. 2. (l.c.) a friction match or cigar developed in the 19th century,… …   Universalium

  • Locofoco Party — Radical wing of the Democratic Party organized in New York City in 1835. Made up largely of workingmen and reformers, the party opposed state banks, monopolies, tariffs, and special interests. Its name derives from the friction matches, known as… …   Universalium

  • locofoco — n. Lucifer match …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • locofoco — lo·co·fo·co …   English syllables

  • Locofoco — Lo•co•fo•co [[t]ˌloʊ koʊˈfoʊ koʊ[/t]] n. pl. cos 1) gov a member of a radical faction of the New York City Democrats, organized in 1835 2) (l.c.) a friction match or cigar developed in the 19th century, ignited by rubbing against any hard, dry… …   From formal English to slang

  • Partido Locofoco — Ala radical del Partido Demócrata organizada en 1835 en Nueva York. Compuesto principalmente de trabajadores y reformadores, el partido se oponía a los bancos estaduales, los monopolios, los aranceles y los intereses especiales. Su nombre se… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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