# I need an esoteric term for counterfeit **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944 "2000-11-28T00:08:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/1 "2000-11-28T00:08:24Z")
(I hope this is the right board to post this at…) So I’m taking a fiction writing class. There was a 10-page story due a week ago; I’m just sitting down to write it now. (Maybe I should be over in the slacker thread in IMHO 😉 ) In my story there is an art gallery that specializes in aquiring conterfeit paintings. I need some obscure, artsy-sounding name for it and I can’t think of a goddamn thing. I’ll take a mythological reference, cliche, proverb, anything… Dictionary and thesaurus were of no help–is there some resource for looking up this kind of thing? Anyway, any suggestion would be so very, very deeply apprieciated, and I promise I will never, ever, ever come here begging for help on my homework ever again. 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/2 "2000-11-28T00:27:47Z")
Hmmm. Ersatz (fake) is one word that comes to mind… How about Doppelganger (sp?) which means “double” iirc… I tried thinking of something from mythos, and I came up with an idea, but I brain-farted it out. I’ll post again if I remember. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/3 "2000-11-28T00:36:17Z")
Entry Word: counterfeit Function: noun Text: Synonyms IMPOSTURE, deceit, deception, fake, fraud, gyp, hoax, humbug, phony, sell Related Word copy, facsimile, reproduction; dummy, simulacrum Entry Word: counterfeit Function: adjective Text: being an imitation intended to mislead or deceive \ \ Synonyms bogus, **brummagem** , fake, false, phony, **pinchbeck** , pseudo, sham, snide, spurious; SPURIOUS 3 Related Word feigned, pretended, simulated; deceptive, delusive, delusory, misleading; fraudulent Contrasted Words authentic, veritable; actual, real, true; unquestionable, valid Antonyms bona fide, genuine Entry Word: counterfeit Function: verb Text: Synonyms ASSUME 4, act, affect, bluff, fake, feign, pretend, put on, sham, simulate Related Word ape, copy, imitate, mimic \*\* Excerpted from the online Merriam Webster Dictionary site. \*\* **Brummagem** is the most esoteric of the lot. It refers to a bastard form of pronounciation of the English city “Birmingham”. It specifically refers to sham coins or plated metals. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary) If you make your art expert a Brit then the term will have more validity in its use. **Pinchbeck** was the only other word that was as good. It too, is of English origin and used to be a reference to a watchmaker. If your expert is also versed in metal jewelery it will help substantiate the use of such obscure terms. Pinchbeck = Goldlike alloy of copper and zinc used in cheap jewelery. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/4 "2000-11-28T00:37:09Z")
Go to an on-line Thesaurus. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/5 "2000-11-28T00:54:40Z")
The art world loves to use the term _homage_, pronounced oh-MAHJ, for derivative works. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/6 "2000-11-28T00:56:57Z")
It’s your story, make up a term, particularly if the character is from or has dealings with another country; something foreign-sounding but meaningless should work. Think “A Clockwork Orange”. e.g. _fauxbreugel_ (okay, it’s been a long day at work, I can’t think of anything better.) Setting it off in italics helps to highlight the term, and make sure to include the word in context of a sentence or conversation. ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/7 "2000-11-28T01:30:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lazlo \* > \*\* > How about Doppelganger > \*\* Thank you, _that_ was one of the word I was trying to think of. I knew I knew it but I couldn’t remember it. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*Excerpted from the online Merriam Webster Dictionary site. > \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Go to an on-line Thesaurus. > \*\* ah, well, silly me, I’ve been using the paper versions… _bookmarks [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) and [thesaurus.com](http://thesaurus.com)_ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > **brummagem** _flips open dictionary. b… br…_ YES!! Perfect! Thank you Zenster! Brummagem Art Galleries it is. In gratitude I offer you my first-born son. Or I’ll work your name into the story at some point. One or the other. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/8 "2000-11-28T01:44:46Z")
No applause, just throw money! Glad you like the submissions. How you’re going to work “Zenster” into the story has piqued my curiosity. Let me know in an email. All the best! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/9 "2000-11-28T06:27:26Z")
You might also work the name Eric Hebborn into your story. Anyone familiar with art forgery would recognize his name. ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/10 "2000-11-28T06:32:29Z")
What about **faux**? (fake, in french) ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2000, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-esoteric-term-for-counterfeit/42944/11 "2000-11-28T09:22:43Z")
LOL, I saw either an infomercial or a segment on a home shopping channel that was selling ‘Chinese Faux Pearls’. They NEVER said faux without the preceding ‘Chinese’, I am certain they were hoping to trick ignorant people into thinking ‘Fo’ was some Chinese word for a variety of pearl.