Shark Definition

shärk

sharks

noun

A person who victimizes others, as by swindling or cheating.

Webster's New World

Any of various orders of cartilaginous fishes that are usually large and mostly marine, having a tough, spiny, usually slate-gray skin, separate lateral gill openings, and a slender, rounded body with the mouth on the underside: most sharks are fish-eaters, and some will attack humans.

Webster's New World

A person, such as a loan shark, who takes advantage of the misfortune of others for personal gain.

American Heritage

A person with great ability in a given activity; adept; expert.

Webster's New World

Someone who exploits others, for example by trickery, lies, usury, extortion.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
trickery
make
fraud
fish
expert
(colloq.) sharper
swindler
cheat
usurer
trickster
predator
maneater
mako
flimflam artist

verb

To obtain by deceitful or underhand means.

American Heritage

To get or live by fraud or stratagems.

Webster's New World

To take advantage of others for personal gain, especially by fraud and trickery.

American Heritage

(obsolete) To pick or gather indiscriminately or covertly.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Shark

Noun

Singular:

shark

Plural:

sharks

Origin of Shark

First attested in the 1560s, the word meaning 'scaleless fish' is of uncertain origin: it was apparently brought to England, with a specimen, by John Hawkins. The word may derive from the Yucatec Maya xoc, or it may be an application of the "scoundrel" sense (which derives from the German Schurke (“scoundrel")) to the fish; no explanation is agreed upon.

From Wiktionary
Perhaps from the noun, or perhaps related to shear.

From Wiktionary
From the German Schurke (“scoundrel").

From Wiktionary
Origin unknown

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition