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. Its name in Old English is unknown, although some uses of the word hranfisċ that do not appear to carry the sense of "whale" may have been referencing it. 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 xok (“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.
Biology, Ichthyology, Natural sciences, Zoology Any 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.2011 October 13, AP, “Man 'surfs' great white shark”, in The Guardian:
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Meat of this animal, consumed as food.
Shark has traditionally, although in some secrecy, been a staple food in European, American and Australian food.1987, John D.Stevens, editor, Sharks, New York, NY: Facts on File, →ISBN, page 195:
In the past, people did not like to eat shark because they thought sharks ate the bodies of dead sailors.1992, Miranda MacQuitty, Shark, First American edition, New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 61:
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Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish due to their high levels of mercury.2013, Jill J. Grover, Ecological Food for Thought on Seafood, West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity Publishing, →ISBN, page 26:
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Biology, History, Human sciences, Natural sciences, Paleontology, SciencesBroadly Any fish of the class Chondrichthyes, especially an extinct shark-like holocephalian.
Cladoselache, a well-preserved Devonian shark fossil from Ohio. Here the cartilages and some muscle tissues are preserved intact2024, John Long, The Secret History of Sharks: The Rise of the Ocean's Most Fearsome Predators, New York: Ballantine Books, page 17:
› A freshwater fish that resembles a true…
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Any fish in the genus Epalzeorhynchos.
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Any fish in the genus Balantiocheilos.
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An iridescent shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus).
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A roseline shark (Dawkinsia denisonii).
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A paroon shark (Pangasius sanitwongsei).
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A noctuid moth of species Cucullia umbratica.
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UK A university student who is not a fresher that has engaged in sexual activity with a fresher; usually habitually and with multiple people.
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. Its name in Old English is unknown, although some uses of the word hranfisċ that do not appear to carry the sense of "whale" may have been referencing it. 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 xok (“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.
Someone who exploits others, for example by trickery, lies, usury, extortion.
“[…] Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. Oh, dear, there's so much to tell you, so many warnings to give you, but all that must be postponed for the moment.”1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 85:
“Look after her, Mr. Hastings. My poor Emily. They’re a lot of sharks—all of them. Oh, I know what I’m talking about. There isn’t one of them that’s not hard up and trying to get money out of her. I’ve protected her as much as I could. Now I’m out of the way, they’ll impose upon her.”1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 15:
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.2018 June 17, 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 05 Aug 2019:
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A person that excels in a particular field.
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Informal, Proscribed A very good poker or pool player. Compare fish (a bad poker player).
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Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A person who feigns ineptitude to win money from others.
Ah Captaine, lay not all the fault upon Officers you know you can ſhark though you be out of action, witneſſe Montague.1612–1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Honest Mans Fortune”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, pages 161–162:
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 Probably from the "steal" senses above, but perhaps related to shear. Compare shirk.
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Obsolete To pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.
Fortenbraſſe […] Hath […] Sharkt vp a ſight of lawleſſe Reſolutes […]c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]: