51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

shamus

[ shah-muhs, shey- ]

noun

Slang.
plural shamuses.
  1. a detective.
  2. a police officer.


shamus

/ ˈʃeɪ-; ˈʃɑːməs /

noun

  1. slang.
    a police or private detective
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of shamus1

1925–30; of obscure origin, though popularly derived from either Yiddish shames shammes or the Irish male given name é
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of shamus1

probably from shammes , influenced by Irish é James
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Have the world-weary shamus and the former Aztec capital lost their noir juju?

From

The heroes are typically amateur or private detectives, possibly quirky, often women, sometimes a couple; they aren’t likely to suffer the afflictions common to the hard-boiled shamus — depression, rage, alcoholism, untreated trauma.

From

Philip Marlowe at quarterback, Easy Rawlins at strong safety, and a fierce defensive line of framed shamuses.

From

And as the Honolulu-based shamus Thomas Magnum, a journeyman actor named Tom Selleck made himself a star on the strength of a twinkling smile and a modest gift for self-deprecating humor.

From

It doesn’t take much to lure the old shamus out of a seclusion, which he isn’t much enjoying anyhow.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement