- sham (n.)
- 1670s, "a trick, a hoax, a fraud," perhaps from sham, a northern dialectal variant of shame (q.v.). Sense of "Something meant to be mistaken for something else" is from 1728. The meaning in pillow-sham (1721) is from the notion of "counterfeit." The adjective is attested from 1680s; the verb from 1670s. Related: Shammed; shamming. Shamateur "amateur sportsman who acts like a professional" is from 1896.