原語ゲルマン語*skamo, to cover, to hide, PIE*skem, to cover, to hideから来た可能性があり、語源的にはhide, shameと同じ。
英語の語源
sham
sham: see shame
sham (n.)
1670s, "a trick, a hoax, a fraud," also as a verb and an adjective, of uncertain origin; the words burst into use in 1677. Perhaps from sham, a northern dialectal variant of shame (n.); a derivation OED finds "not impossible." Sense of "something meant to be mistaken for something else" is from 1728. The meaning "false front" in pillow-sham (1721) is from the notion of "counterfeit." Related: Shammed; shamming; shammer. Shamateur "amateur sportsman who acts like a professional" is from 1896.
例文
1. The latest crime figures are a complete sham .
最新の犯罪統計数字は完全に捏造されている。
2.They cunningly played the game of sham peace.彼らは狡猾に偽平和のトリックを弄している。