fakement slang.
(ˈfeɪkmənt)
Also fakeman-charley.
[f. as prec. + -ment; the origin of the longer form is unknown.]
A piece of manipulation, contrivance, ‘dodge’; vaguely, a thing, ‘concern’; a trimming, decoration (on an article of clothing).
| 1812 J. H. Vaux Flash Dict. s.v. Fakeman-charley, Speaking of any stolen property which has a private mark, one will say, there is a fakeman-charley on it; a forgery which is well executed is said to be a prime fakement; in a word, anything is liable to be termed a fakement, or a fakeman-charley, provided the person you address knows to what you allude. 1823 Egan in Grose's Dict. Vulg. Tongue (ed. 3) s.v. Tell the macers to mind their fakements, desire the swindlers to be careful not to forge another person's signature. 1838 Glascock Land Sharks II. 4, I see you're fly to every fakement. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 52 Pair of long sleeve Moleskin..with a double fakement down the side. Ibid. I. 246 Ah! once I could screeve a fakement (write a petition). 1877 Five Years Penal Servitude iv. 254 You worked that little fakement in a blooming quiet way. |