English

Alternative forms

• (α-forms) Abraham-man, Abrahamman
• (β-forms) Abram man, Abram-man, Abramman

Noun

Abraham man ‎(plural Abraham men)

1. (archaic, Britain, cant, historical) A mentally ill beggar.
2. (archaic, Britain, cant, historical) By extension, any beggar who pretends to be ill, physically or mentally, to obtain alms.

Synonyms

• Abram, Abram-cove, Abram cove, Abraham-cove, Abraham cove, Bedlam beggar, God's minstrel, Poor Tom, Tom of Bedlam, Tom of Bedlam's man

Derived terms

• Abraham sham, Abram sham
• sham Abraham, sham Abram
• do Abram
• Abraham suit
• go on the Abraham suit
• Abraham work

References

• Grose, Francis (1788) A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 2nd edition, London: S. Hooper
• Grose, Francis, The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue / Lexicon Balatronicum: A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence: altered and enlarged (London; 1811)
• Barrère, Albert; Leland, Charles Godfrey (1889) A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant, volume 1, pages 7–8
• Farmer, John Stephen (1890) Slang and Its Analogues, volume 1, pages 9–10