shell out
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A game played on a billiard table, a variation of pool.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I have more than once had to lend a commercial money to pay his fare home; as he had played shell-out and lost the lot.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
to pay or count out money. Also a game played on a billiard table, a variation of pool.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “shell out” mean?
A game played on a billiard table, a variation of pool.
Is “shell out” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.