What Is a ‘Humbug,’ Anyway?

Thanks to the timeless story “A Christmas Carol,” we all know the word “humbug.” But what exactly does it mean?

The term “humbug” may have had far richer implications for the plot of "A Christmas Carol" than a modern reader might ever expect. Biba Kayewich

Charles Dickens’s classic “A Christmas Carol” has helped instill in generations of people a spirit of charity and goodwill that makes itself evident, especially during the holiday season. And by the end of the story, the immortal Ebenezer Scrooge not only exemplifies this spirit, but also represents hope for us all: that all the way until the end of life, there’s a chance of redemption.

A yet lesser-known part of the “Christmas Carol” story is the quirky lexical context in which Dickens’s characters were operating. These were Victorian times, and English during that era was full of fun little curiosities such as “humbug.”

Before we get to the task of explaining that term, let’s learn a few more.

Last time you went to a Christmas market, did you experience any “scrowdging”? (Victorian English for “squeezing and crowding.”)

And were you careful upon encountering any seeming “sharpers”? (Swindlers, a variation on “shark” as in “loan shark,” likely from the German “schurke,” meaning rascal or scoundrel.)

If you were, you would’ve done well to bring with you your “quizzing glass” to examine the goods for soundness. (A small magnifying glass; the word “quiz” originally meant “to look closely and inquisitively at something.”)

Well, let’s hope that if your quizzing glass revealed anything questionable, you got away from the “rip” who was selling them quickly. (Rip: an immoral or mischievous person, slang derived from “reprobate.”)

And now, to the memorable “humbug.” “A Christmas Carol” was published in 1843, although the word was in use for about a century before that.

It was originally student slang, and was used to refer to something false or deceptive, or to some kind of trickery. The oldest known written appearance of “humbug” was in the second volume of the book “The Student” (1751), where it is described as “a word very much in vogue with the people of taste and fashion.”

It later appeared in the 1798 dictionary “A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue” (“vulgar” meaning colloquial) edited by Francis Grose. And when Noah Webster published his famous dictionary in 1828, “humbug” again appeared.

In terms of breaking down the term, it likely derived from the English “hum,” meaning “to deceive,” and “bug,” meaning “ghost or goblin.” Think “bogeyman.” Sounds a little like “bug,” does it not? The Middle English word “bugge” is what “bug” and “bogey” may trace back to.

So the term “humbug” may have had far richer implications for the plot of the story than a modern reader might ever expect! That is, right off the bat, Mr. Scrooge says that Christmas is a deceptive ghost. Foreshadowing, perhaps?

While I’m not an avid Dickens fan myself (exposure too early on to the tragedies depicted in “Oliver Twist” may be partly to blame), “A Christmas Carol” has always captured my heart.

On that note, one of the most engaging videos I have ever seen that helps remind kids to say “please and thank you” is based on a scene from “Oliver Twist.” For those who know Oliver, you absolutely must watch it. It’s delightful! Just search for “Oliver With A Twist,” and you’ll find it.

So given that it’s Christmas, why not read or watch the Dickens Christmas classic again?

While there have been many productions of it, here are two films related to the story that are extremely well done:

A scene from "A Christmas Carol" (1984), starring George C. Scott. MovieStillsDB

• The 1984 movie called “A Christmas Carol,” starring George C. Scott. Mr. Scott, who plays Scrooge, delivers his lines with such skill and conviction that it brings the book to life in an extremely memorable way. An added bonus is that many of the lines are drawn directly from the book, imbuing the movie with an elegance and classical feel not merely by dint of its costumes and props. Do note, though, that the ghost depictions in this film might not be suitable for littler viewers. The trailer posted on IMDB.com shows what the film is like and can be used to judge age appropriateness.

• There’s also the more recent 2017 film “The Man Who Invented Christmas.” While we all know who really invented Christmas, and it wasn’t Dickens, talented as he was, this film is a beautiful portrayal of the struggles and inspiration that led to the creation of his classic Christmas work. Parade calls it “magical and heartwarming.” Once again, though, adults might want to watch the film first before showing it to young ones.

• And finally, one more recommendation for those who want to dive a little deeper into some of the now-archaic yet entertaining terms that Dickens used in his works: the book “What the Dickens?! Distinctly Dickensian Words and How to Use Them” by Bryan Kozlowski. The book is a dictionary of sorts, where you will find more complete explanations of the words mentioned above, as well as many more. Mr. Kozlowski is a highly entertaining and insightful author.

No matter how you choose to spend your Christmas, my wish for you is that you don’t encounter any Scrooges, or rips, or bugs along the way, and that if you do, you win them over with your giving and loving spirit!

Or, er, not spirit, but rather, heart.

Merry Christmas!