Dictionary

shamus en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• shä'məs
• shā'məs
• /ˈʃeɪməs/
• /ˈʃɑːməs/

Etymology

Said to be from the Irish name Séamus, on account of many American police officers being of Irish descent.

Meanings

1. (US, slang) A private detective; originally, a policeman or police detective.
   • “That's what you're here for. Didn't your aunt tell you? She wants you to follow Wilbert Cream and Phyllis about everywhere and see that he doesn't get a chance of proposing.” “You mean that I'm to be a sort of private eye or shamus, tailing them up? I don't like it,” I said dubiously. 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter IV:

Forms