Humbug is an archaic term meaning "hoax", or "jest". While the term was first attested in 1751 in student slang, it's etymology is unknown. It's present meaning as an exclamation is closer to "nonsense", or "gibberish", while as a noun, a humbug refers to a fraud, or an impostor. In several East-Indian dialects, the word is borrowed from English, and used to mean "to deceive" or "to cheat."

A mint humbug is also a type of boiled mint, striped with alternate dark brown and beige stripes. They have a strong, sugary taste and are often sold wrapped individually in plastic film.

Popular culture

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• The exclamation "Bah, humbug!" has become associated with Ebenezer Scrooge in the story book, A Christmas Carol and a dismissive attitude towards Christmas, characterizing the holiday itself as a fraud. This has years later been spoofed by Mr. Burns saying "Bah, humbug!" in the Simpsons episode "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"

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at seesterz house in town, but my nephew just went to sleep just my luck *humbug
alanalyn (alana cuarisma) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:36:46 -0000
at seesterz house in town, but my nephew just went to sleep just my luck *humbug
@graceyleone oh bah humbug.
RottenKoala (Hac Doan) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:59:45 -0000
@graceyleone oh bah humbug.
@dwags: Bah! Humbug.
Lucy_Duffy (Lucy Duffy) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:53:45 -0000
@dwags: Bah! Humbug.
@clvrmnky- I erred- #monfortedairy wasn't at #kw farmers markets, they were just in #stratford & #toronto. #bah #humbug
Da (Daniel Allen) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:52:55 -0000
@clvrmnky- I erred- #monfortedairy wasn't at #kw farmers markets, they were just in #stratford & #toronto. #bah #humbug
@Alyvore bah humbug
ashbabex0 (Ashley ) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:48:54 -0000
@Alyvore bah humbug
@freducom in a word, humbug :)
kmh (Markus Koivisto) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 22:48:54 -0000
@freducom in a word, humbug :)

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