shark Hear it!

shark1 definition

shark (s̸härk)

noun

  1. a person who victimizes others, as by swindling or cheating
  2. ☆ Slang a person with great ability in a given activity; adept; expert

Etymology: prob. < Ger schurke, scoundrel, rogue, sharper < MHG schurgen, to push, mislead < IE *skēu- < base *sek-, to cut > saw

transitive verb, intransitive verb

Archaic to get or live by fraud or stratagems
shark2 definition

shark (s̸härk)

noun

any of various orders of cartilaginous fishes that are usually large and mostly marine, having a tough, spiny, usually slate-gray skin, separate lateral gill openings, and a slender, rounded body with the mouth on the underside: most sharks are fish-eaters, and some will attack humans

Etymology: ? akin to shark

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.