Brummagem

Use this forum to discuss past Good Words.
User avatar
Dr. Goodword
Site Admin
Posts: 7407
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:28 am
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Contact:

Brummagem

Postby Dr. Goodword » Fri May 26, 2023 6:06 pm

• brummagem •


Pronunciation: brê-mê-jêm • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun, adjective

Meaning: 1. (Capitalized) A local contemptuous slur referring to Birmingham, England. 2. (Adjective) Counterfeit and showy, cheap, fake.

Notes: This little-known word was the original name of Birmingham, a midlands city in England. It is to this day reflected in what the inhabitants of Birmingham are called: Brummies (Brummy). In the 19th century several derivations came from today's word, an adjective, brummagemish, a noun, brummagemism (or brummagism), and a verb, brummagemize. None seem to have taken hold.

In Play: Because Birmingham had the reputation for producing more counterfeit coins than any other town in England at one time, one of the meanings of today's Good Word is "counterfeit"; "I'm offered brummagem Rolex watches almost every day via e-mail." However, that sense drifted to anything tawdry and cheap: "Did you see the brummagem frock Maud Lynn Dresser wore to Marian Kine's wedding? Who does she think she's fooling!"

Word History: Today's Good Word began its life as the original name of Birmingham, England, around 600 AD. As the name of that city changed, the original was kept as a capsule of the history of the city's reputation. By the end of the 17th century Birmingham had the reputation for counterfeiting the British groat, a four-pence coin. As Birmingham grew into the great industrial city it is today, it produced more and more goods both of high quality and low, but the reputation for the low-quality goods stuck. In fact it spread: today in Australia an item is brummy (or brummie) if it is cheaply made or counterfeit. (There is nothing brummagem about Anthony Arlidge's suggestion of today's Good Word. It was an extraordinary find.)
• The Good Dr. Goodword

David Myer
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1134
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:21 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Brummagem

Postby David Myer » Sun May 28, 2023 8:47 am

Surely use of this word is politically incorrect at best and possibly illegal in some countries. If it is a generalising slur on people who come from Birmingham, and that's how I read it, then it fails legal tests in Australia at least.

User avatar
Dr. Goodword
Site Admin
Posts: 7407
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:28 am
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Contact:

Re: Brummagem

Postby Dr. Goodword » Sat Jun 03, 2023 7:51 pm

I think it might be saved from illegality in Birmingham itself by historical pride for being the original name of Birmingham, which was established around 600 AD. You're right in spotting the conflict here, though.
• The Good Dr. Goodword

David Myer
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1134
Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:21 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Brummagem

Postby David Myer » Sun Jun 25, 2023 5:03 am

OK. Let's rely on history then.


Return to “Good Word Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests