verb (used with object), bam·boo·zled, bam·boo·zling.
- to deceive or get the better of (someone) by trickery, flattery, or the like; humbug; hoodwink (often followed by into): They bamboozled us into joining the club.
- to perplex; mystify; confound.
verb (used without object), bam·boo·zled, bam·boo·zling.
- to practice trickery, deception, cozenage, or the like: He bamboozled his way to the top.
verb (tr) informal
- to cheat; mislead
- to confuse
1703, originally a slang or cant word, perhaps Scottish from bombaze “perplex,” related to bombast, or French embabouiner “to make a fool (literally ‘baboon’) of.” Related: Bamboozled; bamboozling. As a noun from 1703.