Shark Definition
Contents
English
Wikipedia has an article on: SharkPronunciation
Etymology 1
First attested in the 1560s, the word meaning 'scaleless fish' is of uncertain origin: it was apparently brought to England, with a specimen, by John Hawkins. The word may derive from the Maya xoc, or it may be an application of the "scoundrel" sense (which derives from the German Schurke (“scoundrel”)) to the fish; no explanation is agreed upon.[1]
Noun
shark (plural sharks)
- A scaleless fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton that has 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
- 1569, The true discripcion of this marueilous strange Fishe, whiche was taken on Thursday was sennight, the xvj. day of June, this present month, in the yeare of our Lord God, M.D.lxix., a broadside printed in London, the earliest known use of the term; reprinted in A Collection of Seventy-Nine Black-Letter Ballads and Broadsides: printed in the reigh of Queen Elizabeth, between the years 1559 and 1597 in 1867:
- The straunge fishe is in length xvij. foote and iij. foote broad, and in compas about the bodie vj. foote; and is round snowted, short headdid, hauing iij. rankes of teeth on either iawe, [...]. Also it hath v. gills of eache side of the head, shoing white. Ther is no proper name for it that I know, but that sertayne men of Captayne Haukinses doth call it a sharke.
- 1569, The true discripcion of this marueilous strange Fishe, whiche was taken on Thursday was sennight, the xvj. day of June, this present month, in the yeare of our Lord God, M.D.lxix., a broadside printed in London, the earliest known use of the term; reprinted in A Collection of Seventy-Nine Black-Letter Ballads and Broadsides: printed in the reigh of Queen Elizabeth, between the years 1559 and 1597 in 1867:
Synonyms
- (scaleless cartilaginous fish): haye (obsolete)
Derived terms
shark and related fish species
|
|
Translations
scaleless cartilaginous fish
|
|
See also
- dogfish
- hammerhead
- porbeagle
- smooth-hound
- thresher
- white pointer
Etymology 2
From the German Schurke (“scoundrel”).
Noun
shark (plural sharks)
- (informal, derogatory) A sleazy and amoral lawyer; an ambulance chaser.
- (informal) A relentless and resolute person or group, especially in business.
- (informal) A very good pool player.
- (sports and games) A person who feigns ineptitude to win money from others.
Usage notes
- The use of the term by people unfamiliar with pool is rarely well perceived by experienced players.
Derived terms
shark
|
Translations
person who feigns ineptitude
|
Verb
to shark (third-person singular simple present sharks, present participle sharking, simple past and past participle sharked)
- (obsolete) To steal or obtain through fraud.
Derived terms
Anagrams
|