Category:Sham

Sham, n. Etym: [originally the same word as shame, hence, a disgrace, A trick. See shame, n.]

1. That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud, or device that Deludes and disappoint; a make-believe; delusion; imposture, humbug. "a mere sham." Bp. Stillingfleet. Believe who will the solemn sham, not i. Addison.

2. A false front, or removable ornamental covering. Pillow sham, a Covering to be laid on a pillow.

Sham Sham, a.

Defn: false; counterfeit; pretended; feigned; unreal; as, a sham Fight. They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians. Jowett (thucyd)

Sham Sham, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Shamming.]

1. To trick; to cheat; to deceive or delude with false pretenses. Fooled and shammed into a conviction. L'estrange.

2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition. [r.] We must have a care that we do not. . . sham fallacies upon the World for current reason. L'estrange.

3. To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape; to Feign. To sham abram or abraham, to feign sickness; to malinger. Hence a malingerer is called, in sailors' cant, sham abram, or sham Abraham.

Sham Sham, v. i.

Defn: to make false pretenses; to deceive; to feign; to impose. Wondering. . . whether those who lectured him were such fools as They professed to be, or were only shamming. Macaulay.