scam
The origin and history of scam.
Etymology
Origin uncertain — American slang, possibly linked to "scamp" (a swindler) or an Irish word for "crooked." It became widely known in the early 1980s after the FBI's Operation ABSCAM sting.
Class of 1980
scam first entered the language around 1980. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1980 →