or fam, fem, subs. (old).—The hand. Cf., FAMBLING-CHEAT. For synonyms, see BUNCH OF FIVES and DADDLE. [German slang has Fehm, Vehm, or Vehn, and is apparently the same word as the English FAM. A likely etymon is the Swed. and Dan. fem, five.]
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, s.v. 1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. FAMBLES. handes.
1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, ii., 1. We clapt our FAMBLES.
1724. E. COLES, English Dictionary, s.v.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. If I had not helped you with these very FAMBLES (holding up her hands).
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 28.
| Allowing for delicate FAMS, which have merely | |
| Been handling the sceptre, and that, too but queerly. |
1878. CHARLES HINDLEY, The Life and Times of James Catnach. So kiddy is my FAMBLE.
Verb (old).—To touch; to handle; especially with a view to ascertaining the whereabouts of valuables. Also termed TO FAM FOR THE PLANT, and TO RUN A RULE OVER. TO FAM A DONNA = to take liberties with a woman; to FIRKY-TOODLE (q.v.); to CROSS-FAM (q.v.).
