Fake

subs. (common).—An action; a proceeding; a manœuvre; a mechanical contrivance—an affair of any kind irrespective of morals or legality: generally used in a sense specifically detrimental. In America, a swindler. [Origin dubious: Barrère says, ‘a very ancient cant word,’ but gives no evidence. FAKEMENT (q.v.) appears to be the older subs. form (1785), while the verbal usage is traced to Ainsworth’s ‘FAKE away’! in Rookwood (1834). Conjecturally derived from the Latin facere, to make, to do: compare to which the French slang use of faire.]

  1827.  MAGINN, in Blackwood’s Magazine.

  [Circa 1850, but date uncertain.]  ‘Bates’ Farm.’

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 237. After that we had a fine FAKE—that was the fire of the Tower of London—it sold rattling.

  1871.  London Figaro, 21 Oct. Yet they’ve been known for many a FAKE To coolly set a trap.

  1883.  GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, & Co., ‘From London to York.’ Naming the house in the ridiculous way it was named was merely a ‘FAKE’ to draw attention to it.

  1888.  New York Mercury. Both ladies then came to the conclusion that the fortune-teller was a FAKE, and they decided to notify the police.

  1889.  Globe, 23 July, p. 2, col. 2.

  Verb (common).—1.  To do anything; to fabricate; to cheat; to deceive, or devise falsely; to steal; to forge. A general verb-of-all-work. In America FIX (q.v.) is employed much in the same way, whilst the French slang has faire; maquiller; aquiger or quiger; and goupiner.

  [In combination TO FAKE A SCREEVE = to write a begging letter; TO FAKE ONE’S SLANGS = to file through one’s fetters; TO FAKE A CLY (q.v.) = to pick a pocket; TO FAKE THE SWEETENER = to kiss; TO FAKE THE DUCK = to adulterate, to dodge; TO FAKE THE RUBBER = to stand treat; TO FAKE THE BROADS = to pack the cards, or to work the three-card trick; TO FAKE A LINE (theatrical) = to improvise a speech; TO FAKE A DANCE, or A STEP, or A TRIP (theatrical) = to perform what looks like, but is not, dancing.]

  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 390. The ring is made out of brass gilt buttons, and stunning well: it’s FAKED up to rights, and takes a good judge even at this day to detect it without a test.

  1861.  C. READE, The Cloister and the Hearth, ch. lv. There the folk are music-bitten, and they molest not beggars, unless they FAKE to boot, and then they drown us out of hand.

  2.  (sporting).—To hocus; to nobble; to tamper.

  1872.  Morning Post, 7 Nov. Since the FAKING of the scales in Catch-’em-alive’s year the oldest habitué of Newmarket cannot recall so sensational a Cambridgeshire week as the last one.

  3.  (theatrical).—Also TO FAKE UP. To paint one’s face; to make up a character.

  1885.  The Sporting Times, 23 May. ‘The Chorister’s Promise.’

  4.  (American thieves’).—To cut out the wards of a key.

  1859.  G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

  FAKE AWAY! intj. phr. (common).—An ejaculation of encouragement.

  1834.  W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, ‘Jenny Juniper’s Chant.’

  1846.  Punch’s Almanack, ‘Song of September.’