shill

Etymology

 * attested as verb 1914, as noun 1916. Perhaps an abbreviation of, attested 1913. The word entered English via carny, originally denoting a carnival worker who pretends to be a member of the audience in an attempt to elicit interest in an attraction.

Speculatively an extended form of via.

There are some suggestions that it originates in the surname Shilaber or Shillibeer, especially, but proposed origins are dubious as the word is first attested in North America in the 20th century, while proposed models are 19th century British.

American humorist Benjamin Penhallow Shillaber (1814–1890) was known to write under the name Mrs. Ruth Partington to lend credibility to some of his ideas. This is one more possible origin of the word, although there is no specific evidence supporting a connection.

Pronunciation

 * (in some accents)
 * (in some accents)
 * (in some accents)
 * (in some accents)

Noun

 * 1)  A person paid to endorse a product while pretending to be impartial.
 * 2)   Any person enthusiastically endorsing a product; especially, one who is getting paid for the endorsement.
 * 3)  An accomplice at a confidence trick during an auction or gambling game, such as an accomplice of the seller who bids to drive up the price.
 * 4)   A house player in a casino.
 * 1)   Any person enthusiastically endorsing a product; especially, one who is getting paid for the endorsement.
 * 2)  An accomplice at a confidence trick during an auction or gambling game, such as an accomplice of the seller who bids to drive up the price.
 * 3)   A house player in a casino.
 * 1)   A house player in a casino.
 * 1)   A house player in a casino.
 * 1)   A house player in a casino.
 * 1)   A house player in a casino.

Translations

 * Catalan:
 * Chinese:
 * Cantonese: 打手
 * Mandarin: ,
 * Finnish: maksettu apuri
 * French: ,
 * German: ,
 * Greek:
 * Italian: uomo di paglia,
 * Japanese:
 * Polish:
 * Russian: подставно́е лицо́,
 * Spanish:, hombre de paja
 * Swedish: lockfågel
 * Thai:


 * Catalan:
 * Finnish: vedättäjä
 * French:, , ,
 * German:, Gehilfe des Schaustellers, Gehilfe des Hausierers, Gehilfin des Schaustellers, Gehilfin des Hausierers
 * Hungarian: szélhámos segítője/segítőtársa
 * Italian: ,
 * Russian: ,
 * Spanish: ,
 * Thai:


 * Finnish: talonpelaaja

Verb

 * 1)  To promote or endorse in return for payment, especially dishonestly; sometimes extended sarcastically even to those not paid but strongly biased in favor.
 * 2) To put under cover; to sheal.
 * 3)  To shell.
 * 1) To put under cover; to sheal.
 * 2)  To shell.
 * 1) To put under cover; to sheal.
 * 2)  To shell.

Translations

 * Catalan:, fer , fer , ,
 * Finnish:, ,
 * French:, , , , faire l'homme de paille
 * German: Ware anpreisen
 * Italian:, ,
 * Russian:, ,  ,
 * Spanish:, andar en chanchullos, , trapisondar


 * Catalan:, , , , ,
 * Finnish:
 * French:, , , , , , , , , mettre sous le boisseau
 * Spanish:, , , , ,