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Shamus is a slang term for a police officer or a private investigator, derived from a jocular comparison of the duties of a sexton and a store detective. Learn more about its synonyms, examples, word history, and related entries.
Dec 12, 2023 · Yet uncertainty over the word’s origins persists. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, for instance, which dates the first appearance of “shamus” in print to 1925, opts for the Yiddish derivation, attributing the word to a “comparison of [the detective’s job] with the duties of a sexton.”. Wikipedia prefers its rival, “the Irish ...
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Shamus definition: a detective.. See examples of SHAMUS used in a sentence.
shamus: 1 n someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information Synonyms: PI , operative , private detective , private eye , private investigator , sherlock Types: hotel detective , house detective , house dick a private detective employed by a hotel or retail store inquiry agent a private detective store detective a private ...
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Said to be from the Irish name Séamus, on account of many American police officers being of Irish descent.
enPR: shä'məs, IPA(key): /ˈʃɑːməs/enPR: shā'məs, IPA(key): /ˈʃeɪməs/Rhymes: -eɪməsHomophones: Séamus (of -ā-/-eɪ-/-eI- pronunciation)shamus (plural shamuses) 1. (US, slang) A private detective; originally, a policeman or police detective. 1.1. 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter IV: 1.1.1. “That's what you're here for. Didn't your aunt tell you? She wants you to follow Wilbert Cream and Phyllis about everywhere and see that he doesn't get a chance of proposing.”...
Learn the meaning, pronunciation and origin of the word shamus, a slang term for a private detective or a policeman. Also, see the anagram and the Ido verb form of shamus.
The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) for the best detective fiction ( P. I. = Private investigator) genre novels and short stories of the year. The Prize is given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. Starting in 2003, the Shamus Awards are sometimes (2003, 2007–2009, 2011 ...
5 days ago · Shamus is a US slang term for a police or private detective, derived from either Yiddish or Irish origin. Learn more about its word frequency, usage, and pronunciation from Collins English Dictionary.
