Barmecide

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Barmecide \Bar"me*cide\, n. [A prince of the Barmecide family,
     who, as related in the "Arabian Nights' Tales", pretended to
     set before the hungry Shacabac food, on which the latter
     pretended to feast.]
     One who proffers some illusory advantage or benefit. Also
     used as an adj.: Barmecidal. "A Barmecide feast." --Dickens.


     [1913 Webster]