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• brummagem
  brummagem

  adjective

  showy but inferior and worthless.
• Brummagem
  Brummagem

  noun

  an informal name for Birmingham

brummagem

American  

[bruhm-uh-juhm] / ˈbrʌm ə dʒəm /

adjective

1. showy but inferior and worthless.

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noun

1. a showy but inferior and worthless thing.

Brummagem British  

/ ˈbrʌmədʒəm /

noun

1. Often shortened to: Brum.  an informal name for Birmingham

2. (sometimes not capital) something that is cheap and flashy, esp imitation jewellery

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adjective

1. (sometimes not capital) cheap and gaudy; tawdry

Etymology

Origin of brummagem

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

Example Sentences

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

"In my youth," said the Sage, "Fair Debate was the law, And genuine Eloquence rife; And so in an age of mere Brummagem 'jaw' I can still hold my own in the strife."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 105, July 15th 1893 by Various

At length we drew near the great workshop of England, called by some Brummagem or Bromwicham, by others Birmingham, and I fell into a philological reverie, wondering which was the right name. 

From Wild Wales The People, Laguage & Scenery by Borrow, George Henry

A casual lapse into Brummagem, I take it.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 158, June 23, 1920 by Various

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.