Victorian & Edwardian · word · noun
poppycock
POP-ee-kok /ˈpɒpikɒk/ (UK), /ˈpɑpiˌkɑk/ (US)pronunciation given by a dictionary
First recorded1852
Foolish talk; nonsense. An American word of the 1850s, usually said to come from a Dutch dialect word meaning 'soft dung' (the OED doubts that exact Dutch form, pointing to Dutch poppekak instead); the rude origin was forgotten and it became a genteel way of saying 'rubbish!'.
Where it was first recorded
Dated 1852 by Merriam-Webster (World Wide Words reports the OED also has it 'about 1852' in the US), which does not name the work in the sources read.
Also spelled: poppy-cock
In its own time
No period example is shown here yet.
Today
Modern exampleThe claim that the moon landings were staged is complete poppycock.
Fine to use today as a mild, slightly old-fashioned way to dismiss nonsense.
The source word probably referred to dung, but that sense has been lost in English; the word is not considered vulgar.
Questions
What does poppycock mean?
Foolish talk; nonsense. An American word of the 1850s, usually said to come from a Dutch dialect word meaning 'soft dung' (the OED doubts that exact Dutch form, pointing to Dutch poppekak instead); the rude origin was forgotten and it became a genteel way of saying 'rubbish!'.
When was poppycock first used?
It is first recorded 1852 — first recorded date 1852 per Merriam-Webster (World Wide Words reports the OED also has it 'about 1852' in the US); work not named in the sources read.
Can you still use poppycock today?
Fine to use today as a mild, slightly old-fashioned way to dismiss nonsense.
Sources
- poppycock — Merriam-Webster
- poppycock — Online Etymology Dictionary
- Americanisms, Old and New (1889), s.v. POPPY-COCK — John S. Farmer (archive.org)
- Poppycock — World Wide Words (Michael Quinion)
- poppycock — Wiktionary
Checked 2026-09-30 · verdict: attested — found in the dictionaries and texts listed above