n. [ Originally the same word as shame, hence, a disgrace, a trick. See Shame, n. ] 1. That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud, or device that deludes and disappoints; a make-believe; delusion; imposture; humbug. “A mere sham.” Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Believe who will the solemn sham, not I. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A false front, or removable ornamental covering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pillow sham, a covering to be laid on a pillow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shammed p. pr. & vb. n. Shamming. ] 1. To trick; to cheat; to deceive or delude with false pretenses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fooled and shammed into a conviction. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We must have a care that we do not . . . sham fallacies upon the world for current reason. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To assume the manner and character of; to imitate; to ape; to feign. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sham Abram or
To sham Abraham, to feign sickness; to malinger. Hence a malingerer is called, in sailors' cant, Sham Abram, or Sham Abraham. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. False; counterfeit; pretended; feigned; unreal; as, a sham fight. [ 1913 Webster ]

They scorned the sham independence proffered to them by the Athenians. Jowett (Thucyd) [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make false pretenses; to deceive; to feign; to impose. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wondering . . . whether those who lectured him were such fools as they professed to be, or were only shamming. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hind. shāmā. ] (Zool.) A saxicoline singing bird (Kittacincla macroura) of India, noted for the sweetness and power of its song. In confinement it imitates the notes of other birds and various animals with accuracy. Its head, neck, back, breast, and tail are glossy black, the rump white, the under parts chestnut. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From the native name. ] A priest of Shamanism; a wizard among the Shamanists. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Shamanism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The type of religion which once prevalied among all the Ural-Altaic peoples (Tungusic, Mongol, and Turkish), and which still survives in various parts of Northern Asia. The Shaman, or wizard priest, deals with good as well as with evil spirits, especially the good spirits of ancestors. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An adherent of Shamanism. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Shambled p. pr. & vb. n. Shambling ] [ Cf. OD. schampelen to slip, schampen to slip away, escape. Cf. Scamble, Scamper. ] To walk awkwardly and unsteadily, as if the knees were weak; to shuffle along. [ 1913 Webster ]