| 释义 |
Abraham-man, Abram-man
[Possibly in allusion to the parable of the beggar Lazarus in Luke xvii.]
One of ‘a set of vagabonds, who wandered about the country, soon after the dissolution of the religious houses; the provision of the poor in those places being cut off, and no other substituted.’ Nares.
1561J. Awdelay Frat. Vacaboundes 3 An Abraham man is he that walketh bare-armed and bare-legged and fayneth hymselfe mad. 1633Massinger New Way to Pay ii. i. Are they padders, or Abram-men, that are your consorts? 1813Q. Rev. IX. 167 Pretended maniacs who wandered over England, under the name of Abram-men.
Hence, to sham Abraham: to feign sickness, a phrase in use among sailors; also used substantively.
1780O. Goldsmith Misc. Works Essay xxiv. p. 154, I shammed Abraham, merely to be idle. c1805Astonishing Abraham Newland 7 I've heard people say, sham Abraham you may, But you mus'nt sham Abraham Newland. 1835Court Mag. vi. 234/1 Now, all this is sheer nonsense—all sham Abraham, pretty one. 1860J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang, When Abraham Newland was Cashier of the Bank of England, and signed their notes, it was sung: ‘I have heard people say that sham Abraham you may, but you mustn't sham Abraham Newland.’ 1863C. Reade Hard Cash II. xix. 284 ‘Look out,’ he cried in some alarm; ‘he's shamming Abraham.’ |