brummagem

brummagem
/brum"euh jeuhm/, adj.
1. showy but inferior and worthless.
n.
2. a showy but inferior and worthless thing.
[1630-40; local var. of BIRMINGHAM, England (Compare BROMWICHHAM, BROMECHAM (17th century), ME Burmingeham); orig. in allusion to counterfeit coins produced there in the 17th cent.]

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  • Brummagem — Brummagem, (and historically also Bromichan, Bremicham and many similar variants, all essentially Bromwich·ham), is the local name for the city of Birmingham, England, and the dialect associated with it, (see, for example, Carl Chinn and Steve… …   Wikipedia

  • Brummagem — Brum ma*gem, a. [Birmingham (formerly Bromwycham), Eng., the great mart and manufactory of gilt toys, cheap jewelry, etc.] Counterfeit; gaudy but worthless; sham. [Slang] These Brummagem gentry. Lady D. Hardy. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brummagem — index meretricious, tawdry Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • brummagem — cheap and showy, 19c., from a noun, from the vulgar pronunciation of BIRMINGHAM (Cf. Birmingham), England, in reference to articles mass manufactured there. The word also recalls Birmingham s old reputation for counterfeiting …   Etymology dictionary

  • brummagem — [brum′ə jəm] adj. [dial. pronun. of BIRMINGHAM (in ME, Bremingeham), with ref. to counterfeit coins & cheap jewelry once made there] Informal cheap and gaudy n. Informal anything cheap and gaudy, esp. jewelry not made of gems and precious metals …   English World dictionary

  • brummagem — adjective Etymology: alteration of Birmingham, England, the source in the 17th century of counterfeit groats Date: 1637 spurious; also cheaply showy ; tawdry • brummagem noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Brummagem — adj. 1 cheap and showy (Brummagem goods). 2 counterfeit. Etymology: dial. form of Birmingham, England, with ref. to counterfeit coins and plated goods once made there …   Useful english dictionary

  • brummagem — adjective Cheap and showy; meretricious …   Wiktionary

  • brummagem — (Roget s Thesaurus II) adjective Tastelessly showy: chintzy, flashy, garish, gaudy, glaring, loud, meretricious, tawdry, tinsel. Informal: tacky2. See STYLE …   English dictionary for students

  • brummagem — Brum·ma·gem || brÊŒmÉ™dÊ’É™m adj. counterfeit; gaudy but worthless n. counterfeit coin made in the city of Birmingham; counterfeit coin; cheap jewelry …   English contemporary dictionary

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