"abraham-sham" Definition

  1. or SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness or distress. From ABRAHAM-MAN, the _ancient Cant_ term for a begging impostor, or one who pretended to have been mad.—_Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy_, vol. i. p. 360. When Abraham Newland was Cashier to the Bank of England, and signed their notes, it was sung:— “I have heard people say That SHAM ABRAHAM you may, But you mustn’t SHAM ABRAHAM Newland.”

More About abraham-sham

Position in the dictionary: 5 of 4022 slang words.
Next words in the dictionary: absquatulate, acres, adam’s ale, added to the list, addlepate, admiral of the red, affygraphy., afternoon farmer, against the grain, aggerawators
Previous words in the dictionary: abraham-man, about right, abigail, a 1

The Slang Dictionary's Entry for abraham-sham

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