shark

Etymology 1

From Middle English shark (used by Thomas Beckington in 1442 to refer to a kind of fish), of uncertain origin. Most likely from a semantic extension of the German-derived shark (“scoundrel”), see below. The fish was originally called a dogfish or haye in English and Middle English. alternative theories Some older dictionaries derived the word from Latin c(h)archarias, c(h)acharus (from Ancient Greek), but admit that "the requisite [Old French] forms intermediate between E. shark and L. carcharus are not found, and it is not certain that the name [shark] was orig. applied to the fish; it may have been first used of a greedy man". Other older authorities speculated that the word might derive from Yucatec Maya xoc (“fish”) (/ʃok/), as John Hawkins brought a specimen from the area where Mayan was spoken to England in the 1560s. However, the 1442 use rules out a New World origin for the word.

noun

1. (ichthyology) A scaleless, predatory fish of the superorder Selachimorpha, with a cartilaginous skeleton and 5 to 7 gill slits on each side of its head.
   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 straunge Fishe, whiche was taken on Thursday was sennight, the xvi. day of June, this present month, in the yeare of our Lord God, M.D.lxix., a broadside printed in London, the second 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
   He said he had spoken to a woman who was kayaking off Catalina Island, California, in 2008 when a shark slammed her kayak from underneath and sent her flying into the air. She then landed on the back of the shark, Collier said. "At that point the shark started to swim out to sea, so she jumped off its back," Collier said. October 13, 2011, AP, “Man 'surfs' great white shark”, in The Guardian
2. The noctuid moth Cucullia umbratica.
3. (UK, university slang) A university student who is not a fresher that has engaged in sexual activity with a fresher; usually habitually and with multiple people.

verb

1. (rare) To fish for sharks.
2. (UK, university slang) Of a university student who is not a fresher, to engage in sexual activity with a fresher, or to be at a bar or club with the general intention of engaging in such activity.

Etymology 2

From German Schurke (“scoundrel”); compare Dutch schurk.

noun

1. Someone who exploits others, for example by trickery, lies, usury, extortion.
2. (informal, derogatory) A sleazy and amoral lawyer.
3. (informal, derogatory) An ambulance chaser.
4. (informal) A relentless and resolute person or group, especially in business.
   In the event they lacked a proper midfield bolt, with Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira huffing around in pursuit of the whizzing green machine. The centre-backs looked flustered, left to deal with three on two as Mexico broke. Löw’s 4-2-3-1 seemed antiquated and creaky, with the old World Cup shark Thomas Müller flat-footed in a wide position. 17 June 2018, Barney Ronay, “Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2019-08-05
5. (informal) A very good poker or pool player. Compare fish (a bad poker player).
6. (sports and games) A person who feigns ineptitude to win money from others.

verb

1. (obsolete) To steal or obtain through fraud.
2. (obsolete, intransitive) To play the petty thief; to practice fraud or trickery; to swindle.
   Neither sharks for a cup or a reckoning. 1628, John Earle, Microcosmography
3. (obsolete, intransitive) To live by shifts and stratagems.
   But a good man ſhall be ſatisfied from himſelf] For he hath a ſpring vvithin his ovvn breaſt, he needs not ſharke abroad: he hath an autarkie, a ſelf-ſufficiency, 1 Tim[othy] 6.6. 1650, John Trapp, “A Commentary or Exposition upon the Proverbs of Solomon. [Chapter XIV.]”, in Solomonis Πανάρετος: Or, A Commentarie upon the Books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs.[…], London: […] T[homas] R[atcliffe] and E[dward] M[ottershead] for John Bellamie,[…], →OCLC, page 147

Etymology 3

Probably from the "steal" senses above, but perhaps related to shear. Compare shirk.

verb

1. (obsolete) To pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.