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]