shamus

sha·mus

S0315600 (shä′məs, shā′-)n. Slang 1. A police officer.2. A private investigator.

---

[Perhaps from the common Irish name Séamus, James (from the many Irish Americans who traditionally served on American police forces ), or from shammes (the duties of a detective being likened to those of a shamash ).]

shamus

(ˈʃɑːməs; ˈʃeɪ-) n, pl -musesslang US a police or private detective[probably from shammes, influenced by Irish Séamas James]

sha•mus

(ˈʃɑ məs, ˈʃeɪ-)

n., pl. -mus•es. Slang. 1. a private detective. 2. a police officer. [1925–30; of obscure orig.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

shamus - someone who can be employed as a detective to collect informationprivate detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, operative, PIdetective - an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the publichotel detective, house detective, house dick - a private detective employed by a hotel or retail storeinquiry agent - a private detectivestore detective - a private detective employed by a merchant to stop pilferage