Also the 6. The ball numbered 6; in American pool ball sets, it is green.
7 ball
See the Seven-ball main article for the game.
Also the 7. The ball numbered 7; in American pool ball sets, it is usually brown. Some variants, for the seven-ball game, are brown with a black or white stripe.
8 ball
An 8 ball (with the cue ball behind it)
See the Eight-ball and Eight-ball pool (British variation) main articles for the games.
Also the 8. The ball numbered 8; in both American- and British-style pool ball sets, it is solid black, though it is an unnumbered black ball.
More money added to an event's prize by the organisers.[2]
ahead race
Also ahead session.
A match format in which a player has to establish a lead of an agreed number of frames (games) in order to win (e.g. in a ten-ahead race, a player wins when she/he has won ten more racks than the opponent).[1]Contrast race [to].
aiming line
An imaginary line drawn from the desired path an object ball is to be sent (usually the center of a pocket) and the center of the object ball.[3]
anchor
To freeze a ball to a cushion; such a ball may be said to be anchored (British: tight). This term is largely obsolete jargon.[4]
anchor nurse
A type of nurse shot used in carom billiards games. With one object ball being anchored (frozen, British: tight) to a cushion and the second object ball just slightly away from the cushion, the cue ball is gently grazed across the face of both balls, freezing the away ball to the rail and moving the frozen ball away the same distance its partner was previously, in an identical but reversed configuration, in position to be struck again by the cue ball from the opposite side to repeat this pattern, back and forth.[4]Compare cradle cannon.
anchor space
A 7-by-14-inch (180mm ×360mm) box drawn on the table in balkline billiards that sets the area for playing.[1]
angle of incidence
The angle at which a ball approaches a cushion.[5] The phrase has been in use since as early as 1653.[1]
angle of reflection
The angle from which a ball rebounds off a cushion.[1][5]
3.A wall rack designed exclusively for storing balls
ball return
How balls potted return to play.[11] Some of them are also setup to return the 8 ball as well, so that pocketing it on the break does not end the game.
banger
A term used for someone hitting the balls faster than needed.[12]Compare British potter.
Used in snooker in reference to the position of the cue ball. It is "below" the object ball if it is off-straight on the top cushion side of the imaginary line for a straight pot (e.g. she will want to finish below the black in order to go into the reds). This may seem counterintuitive; see above for an explanation.
big
Also bigs, big balls, big ones.
In eight-ball, to be shooting the striped suit (group) of balls (9 through 15); "you're big, remember", "you're big balls" or "I've got the big ones".[1]Compare stripes, yellows, high, overs; contrast little.Not to be confused with the carom billiards concept of a big ball.
big ball
A carom billiards metaphor, it refers to an object ball positioned and being approached in such a manner that a near miss will rebound off a cushion and still score. It is as if the ball were larger than normal, making it easier to contact. Normally a ball near a rail is a big ball, but only if being approached from an angle and if all the prerequisite rails have already been contacted.
Not to be confused with the eight-ball term "the big balls", referring to the higher-numbered striped balls. In older British usage the concept was referred to as "large ball".[1]See also "big pocket".
big pocket
A pool and occasionally snooker term (inherited from carom billiards by way of "big ball", above), it is a metaphor for a shot that is very difficult to miss pocketing for any of a number of reasons, most commonly: either the object ball is positioned such that a near miss on one side of it will likely cause the cue ball to rebound off the rail into the object ball and pocket it anyway; or another ball is positioned such that if the target ball does not go straight in, it is still likely to go in off the other ball in a kiss. It is as if the pocket, for this one shot, had become larger. The term can also refer to the angle of shot toward a pocket, especially a side pocket; the pocket is said to be "bigger", for example, on a shot that is only a 5-degree angle away from straight on, than on a 45-degree angle shot which is much more likely to hit one of the cushion points and bounce away.
billiard
Also billiard shot.
1.Any shot in which the cue ball is caromed off an object ball to strike another object ball (with or without contacting cushions in the interim).[1]
2.In certain carom billiards games such as three-cushion, a successful attempt at making a scoring billiard shot under the rules for that game (such as contacting three cushions with the cue ball while executing the billiard). A failed attempt at scoring would, in this context, not be called "a billiard" by players of such games even if it satisfied the first, more general definition.[7]
billiards
1.In the US, Canada and in many different countries and languages (under various spellings) as well as historically, generally refers to all cue sports;
2.Sometimes refers to just carom games as opposed to pool (especially in the US and Canada);
3.In British terminology, chiefly refers to the game known in the rest of the world as English billiards.
billiards glasses
Billiards glasses
Also pool spectacles, snooker specs, etc.
Eyeglasses specially made for cue sports, with tall lenses, set unusually high, so that when the head is lowered over the cue stick for aiming, with the nose pointing downward, the eyes can still look through the lenses instead of over them. They are especially popular among snooker players (notably, 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor).
black ball
Also the black.
1.In snooker, the highest-value colour ball on the table, being worth seven points.[1] It is placed on the black spot.[18] In some snooker ball sets, it is numbered "7" on its surface.
2.Chiefly British: The 8 ball in a pool set, applying both to the casino balls typically used in blackball pool as well as the solids-and-stripes used in other pool games, such American-style eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool.[10] In some casino ball sets, the black ball is actually striped black on white.
black spot
The marked spot on a snooker table at which the black ball is placed. On tournament-size tables, it is 123⁄4 inches (324mm) from the top cushion, on the long string.[18] That is, it is between the top cushion and the pyramid.
blank
1.An unfinished bottom half of a two piece cue (the butt section) with the splice completed, but the cue not yet turned on a lathe to produce the final shape, and certain features having not yet been added such as a wrap, joint mechanism, butt cap, bumper and inlays.[19]
2.An unsuccessful inning at the table. Also known as a duck egg, goose egg, cipher or naught.[19]
blue ball
Also the blue(s).
1.In snooker, the colour ball worth five points,[1] placed on the blue spot in the centre of the table.[18] In some ball sets, it is numbered "5" on its surface.
2.In blackball pool, a common alternate colour for the redsgroup.[20]
blue spot
The marked spot on a snooker table at which the blue ball is placed. Regardless of table size, it is at the lengthwise and widthwise centre of the table (i.e. it is the same as the centre spot.[18]
body english
The useless but common practice of contorting one's body while a shot is in play, usually in the direction one wishes a ball or balls to travel, as if in the vain hope that this will influence the balls' trajectories; the term is considered humorous.[1]See also english.
bottle
Also shake bottle, pea bottle, pill bottle, tally bottle, kelly bottle.
The bottle used in various games to hold numbered peas, it is employed to assign random spots to players in a roster (such as in a tournament), or to assign random balls to players of a game (such as in kelly pool and bottle pool).[1][7]
bottom
1.Chiefly British: The half of the table from which the break shot is taken. This usage is conceptually opposite that in North America, where this end of the table is called the head. Contrast top.See also baulk.
2.Chiefly American: Exactly the opposite of the above – the foot end of the table. No longer in common usage.
Chiefly British: The short rail at the bottom of the table. Traditionally this is the rail on which the table manufacturer's logo appears. Also known as the baulk rail, especially in snooker. Compare head rail (U.S.); contrast top rail.
A type of bridge formed between the thumb and forefinger, creating a loop for the cue to pass through. Principally used in carom billiards, the term is French for 'curled'.[21]
break
1.Also break shot or break off, as a noun. Typically describes the first shot in most types of billiards games. In carom games it describes the first point attempt, as shot from an unvarying cue ball and object balls placement; in many pool games it describes the first shot, which is used to separate the object balls that have been racked together;[1]
2.A series of consecutive pots by a player during a single inning. Most often applied in snooker and English billiards, e.g., "The player had a break of 89 points."[1][7] (Chiefly British; compare US run.) See also maximum break and century break.
Also break and run out.Chiefly American: In pool games, when a player breaks the rackedobject balls, pockets at least one ball on the break, and commences to run out the remaining object balls without the opponent getting a visit at the table. Hyphenated when used as an adjective or compound noun instead of a verbal phrase. See also run the table, rack and run.
break ball
In straight pool, the last object ball left on a table before the remaining fourteen balls must be racked so the player at the table may continue their run. It is called the "break ball" because it is common for players to try to leave this ball in such a position that they may easily pot it and billiard off of it to break open the rack of fourteen balls and continue their run.
break box
Diagram showing the break box and its relation to the kitchen area and head string
In European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) nine-ball, the break box is a zone in the "kitchen" of the head (British: bottom) of the table, from which the break shot must be taken with the cue ball.[22][23] The break box consists of the middle 50% of the kitchen area, delimited latitudinally by the head rail (British: bottom rail) and head string (not the baulk line), and longitudinally by two parallel lines drawn (on the cloth, or more often imaginarily) from the head rail diamonds that are closest to the headcorner pockets, out to the head string (see illustration to the right) on either side. This departure from WPA World Standardised Rules defeats the common break-from-the-side-rail technique for pocketing the 9 ball to win the game on the break; while 9 ball breaks are still possible, they are much more difficult under this rule.[22] This EPBF Euro-Tour requirement was added in 2008 to the Europe vs. US all-star team event, the Mosconi Cup, but has not otherwise been seen much by non-Europeans as of 2011.[update]
break down one's cue
To take one's two-piece cue stick apart. When done before a game's conclusion, it may indicate that the game is conceded.[1] Different leagues have different rules on this matter.
bridge
Either the player's hand or a mechanical bridge used to support the shaft end of the cue stick during a shot. Also the particular hand formation used for this purpose (there are many).[1][7]
bridge hand
The hand used by a player as a bridge during a normal shot that does not involve a mechanical bridge. The bridge hand is usually a player's non-dominant hand.[1]
brown ball
Also the brown.
In snooker, the highest-value baulk colour, worth four points.[24] It is placed on the brown spot.[24][18] In some (especially American) snooker ball sets, it is numbered "4" on its surface.
brown spot
The spot (often not marked) on a snooker table at which the brown ball is placed. Regardless of table size, it is the middle point of the baulk line.[24][14] I.e., it is the same as the baulk spot.[14] The left-to-right order of the green, brown and yellow balls is the subject of the mnemonic phrase "God bless you".[13]
bumper
The bumper on the bottom of a cue, usually made from rubber, which insulates the butt cap from contact with the floor and greatly reduces noise. The bumper was first patented in 1880.[1]
burnish
1.To seal the pores of a wooden cue's shaft by rubbing vigorously with some material. Leather is commonly employed for the task, as is paper money.
2.To similarly vigorously rub the edge of a cue tip (especially a new one) to fortify it against mushrooming and ensure that it is perfectly flush with the ferrule.
3.To smooth out minor dents in the shaft with a rigid burnisher.
burnisher
1.A pad, usually of leather, used to burnish (seal the wood pores of) a cue shaft.
2.A rigid tip tool used to finish and harden the sides of a new cue tip.
3.A shaft maintenance tool, most commonly a cylindrical glass rod, used for smoothing minor nicks in the shaft. This is sometimes done after swelling the wood at the nick site with some moist application.
bushka rings
Named after their innovator, legendary cuemaker George Balabushka, bushka rings are decorative bands of material incorporated into pool cues, commonly just above the wrap area, in the form of ebony and ivory blocks, or sometimes other materials, alternating in a checked pattern.[25]
business, doing
Collusion between matchplay opponents who prearrange the winner of a match on which other people's money is wagered, in order to guarantee a payday.[1]
butt
The bottom portion of a pool cue which is gripped by a player's hand.[1][7]
butt cap
A protective cap mounted on the end of the butt of a cue.
Jewett, Bob (February 2008). "Killing Me Softly?: The Outbreak of the Soft Break Threatens the Game of 9-ball". Billiards Digest. Vol.30, no.3. Chicago: Luby Publishing. pp.34–35. ISSN0164-761X.
Stein, Victor; Rubino, Paul (2008). The Billiard Encyclopedia (3rded.). New York: Balkline Press. ISBN9780615170923.
Stooke, Michael P. (March 14, 2010). "Definitions of Terms used in Snooker and English Billiards". SnookerGames.co.uk. Dorset, England. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. This tertiary source reuses information from other sources without citing them in detail. Stooke is a snooker instructor and writer whose work appears to be presumptively reliable, based on the sources he does cite throughout his materials.
"World 8 Ball Pool Rules"(PDF). Perth, WA, Australia: World Eightball Pool Federation. 2014. These are also the rules of the English Pool Association and other national WEPF affiliates.
