poolshark

poolshark

English

Etymology

Used in the title of a 1915 film. Perhaps related to cardshark,[1] which is in turn likely a variant of cardsharp; the hyphenated phrase billiard-sharp appears in The Mikado in 1885, suggesting that perhaps both terms evolved from sharp to shark in tandem.

Noun

poolshark (plural poolsharks)

  1. (billiards, snooker) A hustler who disrupts a game for his own advantage, such as by feigning incompetence to attract bets, or by harassing opponents.

Synonyms

References

  1. ^ Sharps, sharks and gentlemen — Language Log

Anagrams

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