bookie

noun

book·​ie ˈbu̇-kē How to pronounce bookie (audio)
plural bookies
informal
: a person who determines gambling odds and receives and pays off bets : bookmaker
The "line"—the Vikings over the Giants by four points, for example—establishes the point spread that the bookie believes will attract gamblers in equal numbers to each side of the bet.Jack El-Hai
Funnily enough, I was never anxious to win one of these bets. I didn't want to collect from the bookie on any of them.Art Buchwald

Examples of bookie in a Sentence

Their bookie is giving good odds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sheen previously made a guest appearance in season 1 of the Max comedy series, which follows veteran Los Angeles bookie Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) as the potential legalization of sports gambling in California threatens to upend his business for good. Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024 Feh! Bettors – and bookies – wouldn’t stand for any funny business Orthodox mark Christmas, but the celebration is overshadowed for many by conflict TCU center Sedona Prince out with a hand injury. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2024 If the bookie decides not to pay out a significant win, players are left with few options. Andy McCullough, The Athletic, 1 Apr. 2024 However, betting odds continue to change, and bookies have seen Donald Trump's odds rapidly decline in the past week. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bookie 

Word History

Etymology

by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookie was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near bookie

Cite this Entry

“Bookie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookie. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

bookie

noun
book·​ie ˈbu̇-kē How to pronounce bookie (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on bookie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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