A town in Warwickshire, in England. Used as a nickname for the supporters of the Exclusion Bill in 1680; cf. ANTI-BIRMINGHAM. Also, Birminghamize, to artificialize, make up artificially. Cf. BRUMMAGEM.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 343. In allusion to their spurious groats, the Tory party had fixed on demagogues who hypocritically affected zeal against popery, the nickname of Birminghams.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, v. 102. The manners and customs of society are artificial—made-up men with made-up manners; and thus the whole is Birminghamized.
