-mumbo jumbo-

n. [ Perh. fr. the native name of an African god. ] 1. Among the Mandingos of the western Sudan, a bugbear by means of which the women are terrified and disciplined by societies of the men, one of whom assumes a masquerade for the purpose; hence, loosely, any Negro idol, fetish, or bugaboo. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The miserable Mumbo Jumbo they paraded. Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An object of superstitious homage and fear. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Incomprehensible or senseless language, usually intended to avoid answering plainly, confuse a listener, or obscure an issue. [ PJC ]

4. Language so arcane or obscure as to be unintelligible to the listener. [ PJC ]