Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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name
A moneylender (Jewish stereotype) in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fiction, literature, media, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A loan shark; a usurer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, figuratively, offensive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person of Jewish descent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ethnic, offensive, slur
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: heeb, Hymie, kike, sheeny
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Alternative letter-case form of shylock.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To lend money at exorbitant rates of interest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, intransitive, offensive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a merciless usurer in a play by Shakespeare
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fictional character, fictitious character, character
noun
someone who lends money at excessive rates of interest
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: usurer, loan shark, moneylender
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lender, loaner, shark
History
Possibly derived from Hebrew שלח (Šélaḥ, the grandson of Shem), or Old Saxon skīr-lokk (“white-haired”), referring to goldsmiths and scriveners. It may also be derived from Michael Lok and an archaic meaning of shy (“untrustworthy”).
From the character Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (1600).
Across languages
8 source translations are retained for this English entry.
