Early American Crime

Attleborough

– 1. fake, not genuine, made to imitate; 2. sham jewelry.

The town of Attleborough, Massachusetts was known for producing imitation or trashy jewelry that was either made from base metals or were alloyed so as to fool those who were not good judges of the real thing.

Sources

• Barrère, Albert and Charles G. Leland. A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon, and Cant. [London]: The Ballantyne Press, 1889.
• Matsell, George W. Vocabulum: Or, the Rogue’s Lexicon.. New York: George W. Matsell, 1859.

Note: See “Cant: The Language of the Underworld” to learn more about the background of the American Malefactor’s Dictionary.