flam2 (flam)

and a. [Of artificial origin, haps from the dial. and former E. pronunciation of flame (cf. sham, similarly from shame ); flam would then be equiv. to 'glitter,' which, with or without a disparaging adjective, is often used in the sense of a false show, illusion, delusion; cf. E. dial. flam - new, i. e., fire-new, brand-new: see flam1, flame. See flimflam.] I. n. 1. А delusion; an illusory pretext; a deception; a falsehood; a lie. With some new flam or other, nothing to the matter, And such a frown as would sink all before her, She takes her chamber. Fletcher, Humorous Lieutenant, iv. 1. Bell. Can your drunken friend keep a secret? Merry. If it be a truth; but it prove a lye, a flam , a wheadle, 'twill out; I shall tell it the next man I meet. Sedley, Bell amir a. IMG:content-1427.png:[blocks in formation]