Noah Webster
Sham
SHAM, noun That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud or device that deludes and disappoints; delusion; imposture. [Not an elegant word.]
Believe who will the solemn sham, not I. Addison.
SHAM, adjective False; counterfeit; pretended; as a sham fight.
SHAM, verb transitive
1. To deceive expectation; to trick to cheat; to delude with false pretenses.
They find themselves fooled and shammed into conviction. [Not elegant.]
L'Estrange.
2. To obtrude by fraud or imposition.
SHAM, verb intransitive To make mocks.