locofoco
A member of the Locofoco faction of the New York Democratic Party in the 1830s and 1840sA member of the Locofoco faction of the New York Democratic Party in the 1830s and 1840s.
Meaning
3 senses(US, historical)A member of the Locofoco faction of the New York Democratic Party in the 1830s and 1840s.
(US)Anyone considered to subscribe to Locofocoism, the general political platform or philosophy of the Locofoco faction.
(US, archaic, derogatory, usually)Synonym of Democrat, any member of the US Democratic Party.
Origin
From Latin locus (“place; cause”) and focus (“hearth; fire”), although possibly prompted bFrom Latin locus (“place; cause”) and focus (“hearth; fire”), although possibly prompted by misunderstanding the prefix of locomotive (itself from locus) as instead meaning something like self- or auto-. In reference to the NY political faction, derived from the use of locofoco matches to light candles and continue a meeting the rival Tammany Hall faction had attempted to end by killing the meeting place's gaslights.
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Dictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.