Why do we call it "pool"?

[jason]

Outside the cue sports industry, pocket billiards is almost exclusively referred to as "pool," due to a perhaps unfortunate association with the "poolrooms" where gamblers "pooled" their money to bet remotely ("off-track") on horse races. source −Wikipedia

Has anyone heard of a different reason we call the game "pool".

 

[Black-Balled]

pooling$...funny- taking that a step further...Early bettors we so broke that they had to form a corporation to make the first post!

ha. ha. ha.

 

[Ralph Kramden]

Outside the cue sports industry, pocket billiards is almost exclusively referred to as "pool," due to a perhaps unfortunate association with the "poolrooms" where gamblers "pooled" their money to bet remotely ("off-track") on horse races. source −Wikipedia

Has anyone heard of a different reason we call the game "pool".

All the other four letter words were already being used.

 

[iowa_player]

Why is it that we call something that has absolutely nothing to do with water a Pool Game? Originally the game was called Billiards and is, of course, still referred to as such by the pros. The term billiards comes from the French. The root words are either 'billart' which is one of the sticks or 'bille,' which means ball. The sport had its beginnings way back in the 15th century in Northern Europe.

The evolution to what we in America know as Pool has been long and drawn out. The sticks were initially called maces and had a rather large tip. Players, when faced with a tight shot, would turn the stick around and shoot with the smaller end or 'queue' which means the tail end. Eventually the size of the sticks decreased and we began to refer to them as a 'cue'. The act of putting 'English' on a ball was developed in, of course, England in the 1820's when the leather tip was perfected. The English refer to this technique as 'side', only in America is it alluded to as 'English'.

The prototype game was played with two balls on a six-pocket table with a hoop similar to a croquet wicket and an upright stick used as a target. During the eighteenth century, the hoop and target gradually disappeared, leaving only the balls and pockets. Fifteen-ball billiards was developed in America. The tables were installed in houses where bets or pools on horses were made. The idea was to give the gamblers something to do between races. Gradually the houses took on the name of 'Pool Rooms', which was an unsavory designation in those times. There are many varieties of billiards played all over the world. Snooker is a form that is extremely popular in England. It has gone from being an unsavory parlor activity to a sport of great popularity.

 

[OneArmed]

Why is it that we call something that has absolutely nothing to do with water a Pool Game? Originally the game was called Billiards and is, of course, still referred to as such by the pros. The term billiards comes from the French. The root words are either 'billart' which is one of the sticks or 'bille,' which means ball. The sport had its beginnings way back in the 15th century in Northern Europe.

The evolution to what we in America know as Pool has been long and drawn out. The sticks were initially called maces and had a rather large tip. Players, when faced with a tight shot, would turn the stick around and shoot with the smaller end or 'queue' which means the tail end. Eventually the size of the sticks decreased and we began to refer to them as a 'cue'. The act of putting 'English' on a ball was developed in, of course, England in the 1820's when the leather tip was perfected. The English refer to this technique as 'side', only in America is it alluded to as 'English'.

The prototype game was played with two balls on a six-pocket table with a hoop similar to a croquet wicket and an upright stick used as a target. During the eighteenth century, the hoop and target gradually disappeared, leaving only the balls and pockets. Fifteen-ball billiards was developed in America. The tables were installed in houses where bets or pools on horses were made. The idea was to give the gamblers something to do between races. Gradually the houses took on the name of 'Pool Rooms', which was an unsavory designation in those times. There are many varieties of billiards played all over the world. Snooker is a form that is extremely popular in England. It has gone from being an unsavory parlor activity to a sport of great popularity.

interesting!!

 

[metallicane]

Good stuff.

 

[TheNewSharkster]

Because it is cool.


<ducks and runs>

 

[daveb]

The first poster is correct. Our game's premier pool historian, Mike Shamos, has written several articles and books which cover this topic. Pool rooms were betting parlors (betting pools) that contained tables and the tables became associated with the location, the activity, and hence the name.

 

[daveb]

If you want to be more accurate historically, we should probably call the game "table croquet".

 

[Beware_of_Dawg]

A different account of the beginning of billiards...

In a letter dated 1750, which was presented to the bibliotheque nationale in Paris, a highly ingenious account is given of the origin of biiliards. The writer declares that billiards were invented in ENgland about the middle of the sixteen century by a pawnbroker named Bill Kew. This man, it is alleged, used in his leisure moments to play on his counter three brass balls which he used as a sign. For a cue he had a yard measure, whence the term Bill-yard or Bill's yard, which corrupted into the word Billiard.

source: Daily Mail And Empire News- Aug 6, 1895

 

[Pushout]

Why is it that we call something that has absolutely nothing to do with water a Pool Game? Originally the game was called Billiards and is, of course, still referred to as such by the pros.

Never heard a professional pool player call it billiards. Only the billiard pros.

The evolution to what we in America know as Pool has been long and drawn out. The sticks were initially called maces and had a rather large tip. Players, when faced with a tight shot, would turn the stick around and shoot with the smaller end or 'queue' which means the tail end. Eventually the size of the sticks decreased and we began to refer to them as a 'cue'.

Never heard of this.

The act of putting 'English' on a ball was developed in, of course, England in the 1820's when the leather tip was perfected. The English refer to this technique as 'side', only in America is it alluded to as 'English'.

I thought this came from the Frenchman, Mingaud, who developed it while imprisoned by the Napoleonic govt.

 

[SK Custom Cues]

It is my

understanding that people played pool to pass the time while betting took place. These bets were held in what was called a 'pool room' where gamblers 'pooled' their money.

Over time, the name pool stuck with pocket billiards.

I read this somewhere once, I could be mistaken.

 

[LAlouie]

If you want to be more accurate historically, we should probably call the game "table croquet".

I think a lot of players call it "home".

 

[pdcue]

Why is it that we call something that has absolutely nothing to do with water a Pool Game? Originally the game was called Billiards and is, of course, still referred to as such by the pros.

Never heard a professional pool player call it billiards. Only the billiard pros.

The evolution to what we in America know as Pool has been long and drawn out. The sticks were initially called maces and had a rather large tip. Players, when faced with a tight shot, would turn the stick around and shoot with the smaller end or 'queue' which means the tail end. Eventually the size of the sticks decreased and we began to refer to them as a 'cue'.

Never heard of this.

The act of putting 'English' on a ball was developed in, of course, England in the 1820's when the leather tip was perfected. The English refer to this technique as 'side', only in America is it alluded to as 'English'.

I thought this came from the Frenchman, Mingaud, who developed it while imprisoned by the Napoleonic govt.

You are correct sir, Mingaud did in fact perfect the art of trick and fancy
shots he could execute because he put a leather TIP on his cue and could
spin the cueball.

He toured in England where some clever bloke made the leap to putting
CHALK on the tip - so now most anyone coud do many of Mingaud's
shots.

FWIW - the term 'English' - indicating spin - esp sidespin on a ball,
is used in America pertaining to many ball games(table tennis, etc).

Whether this came from the Brits spinning Billiard balls with 'side'
has not been established.

Dale

 

[DelaWho???]

The lady of the lake, her arm clad in the purest famite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the lake, signifying that I........

Who am I kidding, I got nothing....

I'd give my vote for best thread of 09. The history and folklore surrounding this game is facinating

 

[jgpool]

Here's a Mace

Why is it that we call something that has absolutely nothing to do with water a Pool Game? Originally the game was called Billiards and is, of course, still referred to as such by the pros. The term billiards comes from the French. The root words are either 'billart' which is one of the sticks or 'bille,' which means ball. The sport had its beginnings way back in the 15th century in Northern Europe.

The evolution to what we in America know as Pool has been long and drawn out. The sticks were initially called maces and had a rather large tip. Players, when faced with a tight shot, would turn the stick around and shoot with the smaller end or 'queue' which means the tail end. Eventually the size of the sticks decreased and we began to refer to them as a 'cue'. The act of putting 'English' on a ball was developed in, of course, England in the 1820's when the leather tip was perfected. The English refer to this technique as 'side', only in America is it alluded to as 'English'.

The prototype game was played with two balls on a six-pocket table with a hoop similar to a croquet wicket and an upright stick used as a target. During the eighteenth century, the hoop and target gradually disappeared, leaving only the balls and pockets. Fifteen-ball billiards was developed in America. The tables were installed in houses where bets or pools on horses were made. The idea was to give the gamblers something to do between races. Gradually the houses took on the name of 'Pool Rooms', which was an unsavory designation in those times. There are many varieties of billiards played all over the world. Snooker is a form that is extremely popular in England. It has gone from being an unsavory parlor activity to a sport of great popularity.

Good post. Here's a mace.