locofoco

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 friction on any hard dry rough surface

locofocos … were a decided improvement over the lucifers — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union

— compare lucifer, safety match
2. usually capitalized [so called from a meeting of New York City Democrats on October 22, 1835, to which the radical members came provided with matches to forestall a reported plot by their adversaries to disrupt the meeting by putting out the lights]
a. : a member of a radical group of New York Democrats organized in 1835 in opposition to the regular party organization

editorials that, in the fashion of the northern Locofocos, called for … freedom of banking — Joseph Dorfman

b. : democrat 2

the two great belligerents — the Locofocos and Whigs — Diplomatic Correspondence of Texas

* * *

/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, ignited by rubbing against any hard, dry surface.
[special use of locofoco (cigar), self-lighting, rhyming compound appar. based on LOCO(MOTIVE), taken to mean self-moving; -foco, alter. of It fuoco fire < L focus fireplace]

* * *

locofoco /lō-kō-fōˈkō/ (US)
noun (pl lōcōfōˈcos)
1. A match for striking, a friction match
2. (usu with cap) one of the extreme section of the Democratic party of 1835, known as the Equal Rights Party
ORIGIN: Origin unknown

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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 — 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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