Word of the Day : April 5, 2019

brummagem \BRUM-ih-jum\ adjective

Definition

: not genuine : spurious; also : cheaply showy : tawdry

Did You Know?

Brummagem first appeared in the 17th century as an alteration of Birmingham, the name of a city in England. At that time Birmingham was notorious for the counterfeit coins made there, and the word brummagem quickly became associated with things forged or inauthentic. By the 19th century, Birmingham had become a chief manufacturer of cheap trinkets and gilt jewelry, and again the word brummagem followed suit—it came to describe that which is showy on the outside but essentially of low quality. Perhaps the term was something of an annoyance to the people of Birmingham way back when, but nowadays when brummagem is used (which isn't often) it's usually without any conscious reference to the British city.

Aired April 5, 2019

All Merriam-Webster content is available at www.merriam-webster.com