sham
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Contraction of champagne. In general use among the lower class of sporting men. Sometimes extended to SHAMMY.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “sham” mean?
Contraction of champagne. In general use among the lower class of sporting men. Sometimes extended to SHAMMY.
Is “sham” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.