Sham (?), n. [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.
© Webster 1913.
Sham, a.
False; counterfeit; pretended; feigned; unreal; as, a sham fight.
They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians.
Jowett (Thucyd)
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Sham, v. i.
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.
© Webster 1913.