The greatest or most extreme example of deception, nonsense, or a hoax; utter and complete fraud or falsehood.
From arch- (supreme, extreme) + humbug (deception or nonsense). Humbug emerged in the 17th century, possibly from Middle English hum (a humming sound) combined with bug, or perhaps from an unknown origin.
Charles Dickens was obsessed with humbugs in his novels, and Victorians loved using 'arch-' to intensify social criticism—calling something an 'archhumbug' was both a laugh and a serious accusation in contexts where fraud and hypocrisy were rampant.
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