sharking
|shark-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈʃɑrkɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈʃɑːkɪŋ/
(shark)
predatory fish
Etymology
'shark' (sense 'to swindle, exploit') originates from German, specifically the word 'Schurke' (or Middle High German 'schurk'), where 'Schurke' meant 'rogue, scoundrel'.
'Schurke' (German) was borrowed into Early Modern English as forms like 'sharke'/'shark' (16th–17th century) meaning 'rogue' or 'swindler'; from that noun sense English developed the verb 'to shark' meaning 'to swindle' and the gerund 'sharking'.
Initially it meant 'rogue' or 'scoundrel', but over time it evolved into the action sense 'to swindle, extort, or prey upon', which is the common modern meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or practice of cheating, swindling, or extorting; the practice of exploiting others (often used as a gerund).
Sharking in that neighborhood became a serious problem after the recession.
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Verb 1
to swindle or cheat people by sharp, underhanded, or fraudulent methods; to exploit or take advantage of others for gain.
He was arrested for sharking elderly homeowners out of their savings.
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Verb 2
to extort money or lend at exorbitant interest (as in loan sharking); to practice predatory lending or collection.
The gang made most of its profit through sharking and aggressive collections.
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Last updated: 2025/10/04 03:11