Shamuses — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈshä-məs/ sha·mus

Meaning & Definition of Shamuses

Shamuses (noun)

  1. police officer
  2. private investigator

Shamuses (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level

    "a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is locking horns with his superiors"

    similar: bobbies (British), bulls (slang), constables (chiefly British), coppers, cops, flatfeet (slang), fuzzes, gendarmes, lawmen, officers, policemen, police officers
    related: patrolmen, policewomen, detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, inspectors, investigators, plainclothesmen, sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths, marshals, sheriffs, troopers, peace officers, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, constabularies, heat (slang), men, police, police forces, operatives, private detectives, private eyes, private investigators
    near: civilians

  2. a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons

    "he's a shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases"

    similar: detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, operatives, private detectives, private eyes, private investigators, sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths
    related: shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men, narcs (slang), plainclothesmen

Related Entry: Shamus (noun)

Shamus is a different word from Shamuses. The synonyms below are for shamus, not for shamuses.

  1. a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level

    "a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is locking horns with his superiors"

    similar: bobby (British), bull (slang), constable (chiefly British), cop, copper, flatfoot (slang), fuzz, gendarme, lawman, officer, police officer, policeman
    related: patrolman, policewoman, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound, marshal, sheriff, trooper, peace officer, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, constabulary, heat (slang), man, police, police force, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator
    near: civilian

  2. a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons

    "he's a shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases"

    similar: detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound
    related: shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, fed, Federal, G-man, narc (slang), plainclothesman

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Shamuses

The most common words with a similar meaning to Shamuses:

Slang: bulls, flatfeet
British: bobbies
Chiefly British: constables
coppers, cops, fuzzes, gendarmes, lawmen, officers, policemen, police officers, detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, operatives, private detectives, private eyes, private investigators, sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths

Related Words for Shamuses

patrolmen, policewomen, inspectors, plainclothesmen, marshals, sheriffs, troopers, peace officers, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, constabularies, heat, men, police, police forces, shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men, narcs

Near Antonyms of Shamuses

civilians

Origin & Etymology of Shamuses

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

First known use: 1925

Frequently Asked Questions about Shamuses

What does "Shamuses" mean?

"Shamuses" means police officer. As a noun, it is defined as: police officer. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Shamuses"?

Other words for "Shamuses" include bobbies, bulls, constables, coppers, cops, flatfeet, fuzzes and gendarmes. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Shamuses" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Shamuses"?

There are 48 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Shamuses". Common alternatives include bobbies, bulls, constables, coppers, cops, flatfeet, fuzzes, gendarmes, lawmen and officers.

How do you use "Shamuses" in a sentence?

Examples of "Shamuses" in a sentence: "a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is locking horns with his superiors"; "he's a shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases".

Is "Shamuses" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Shamuses" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Shamuses"?

"Shamuses" is pronounced /ˈshä-məs/ and divided into syllables as sha·mus.

What is the origin of the word "Shamuses"?

"Shamuses" comes from perhaps from Yiddish shames shammes; from a jocular comparison of the duties of a sexton and those of a store detective. First known use: 1925.

What is another word for "Shamuses" meaning "a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level"?

When "Shamuses" (noun) means a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level, synonyms include bobbies, bulls, constables, coppers, cops and flatfeet.