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shamus

noun
sha·​mus | \ ˈshä-məs How to pronounce shamus (audio) , ˈshā-\

Definition of shamus

1 slang : police officer
2 slang : private investigator
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about shamus

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Synonyms for shamus

Synonyms

bobby [British], bull [slang], constable [chiefly British], cop, copper, flatfoot [slang], fuzz, gendarme, lawman, officer, police officer, policeman

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Examples of shamus in a Sentence

a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is bedding chicks he's a sleazy shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases

Recent Examples on the Web

 With Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright back at the creative helm (and The Hollywood Reporter columnist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the writing staff), the season picks up with Veronica (Bell) still working as a shamus in her SoCal hometown of Neptune. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Veronica Mars' Season 4: TV Review," 15 July 2019

First Known Use of shamus

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for shamus

perhaps from Yiddish shames shammes; from a jocular comparison of the duties of a sexton and those of a store detective

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