When you pointed out the correct spelling, you made me spew my soda on my keyboard. . . because I took another closer look at the misspelling, which I had just read right over without noticing before, and suddenly it took on another completely terrible, horrid meaning. . . especially if you split it after the "ho". Shame on my strange mind.
Now I will never be able to look at or use the perfectly good word "hokum" without seeing the misspelling again! My mind is (usually) NEVER that far down in the gutter. . . arrrggggghhhh!
I think “hokum,” like “hocus pocus,” is actually a parody of the words of consecration in the Mass: “Hoc est enim corpus meum.” I think.
Interesting links. It does have something to do with “hocus pocus,” maybe. And “bunkum” or “buncombe.”
Hmm. Remember when Marge Simpson was starting a garden? The brand name on all the supplies—seeds, fertilizer, etc.—was “Dirty Hoe.”