Often shortened to: Brum. an informal name for Birmingham
(sometimes not capital) something that is cheap and flashy, esp imitation jewellery
First recorded in 1675–85; local variant of Birmingham, England (compare Bromwichham, Bromecham (17th century), Middle English Burmingeham ); originally in allusion to counterfeit coins produced there in the 17th century
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An early work of his, "Brummagem," was performed in PNB's 1978 "Summer Inventions" workshop, but he soured on the company after PNB reneged on a promise to provide live music for the piece.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2012
This here little dog once belonged to a gemman who lived at Hands worth, just outside of Brummagem.
From The Young Dragoon Every Day Life of a Soldier by Drayson, A.W.
There 's a Brummagem fellow driving him through Wales,—a bagman,—and he takes him a turn now and then for the county stakes that offer.
From Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2) A Man Of Our Day by Lever, Charles James
I dare say they're some Brummagem people—some Fudge family or other—on their travels.
From Beatrice Boville and Other Stories by Ouida
Some of the factories of this metropolis of hardware are fine structures, but when their product is spoken of, "Brummagem" is sometimes quoted as synonymous for showy sham.
From England, Picturesque and Descriptive A Reminiscence of Foreign Travel by Cook, Joel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
