locofoco

• loco-foco, Locofoco, Loco-foco, Loco-Foco, loco

From 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.

Often folk etymologized to derive from Spanish loco (“crazy”).

locofoco (plural locofocos)

1. (archaic) Short for locofoco match, a strike-anywhere phosphorus match.
2. (US politics, historical) A member of the Locofoco faction of the New York Democratic Party in the 1830s and 1840s.
3. (US politics, archaic, usually derogatory) Synonym of Democrat, any member of the US Democratic Party.
4. (US politics) Anyone considered to subscribe to Locofocoism, the general political platform or philosophy of the Locofoco faction.