Bookie

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbʊki/

Definitions

1. An individual involved in the acceptance and management of bets for various events while profiting from the wagers placed by others
2. A person who oversees betting transactions on sports or other competitions, typically earning a commission from the betting process
3. Someone who accepts and organizes wagers on outcomes of events and makes money from these bets

Etymology: Bookie is a clipping of "bookmaker", shortened by adding the diminutive suffix "-ie" (also spelled "-y" or "-ey" in many such words). The "book" in bookmaker refers to the written record of bets a betting agent keeps, so the name describes the job of someone who writes down wagers and sets their odds. The suffix does most of the work in making the word informal. Adding "-ie" to a shortened noun was a common British habit, and it gives the word a chummy, slightly clipped tone, much like "movie" or "telly." The ending reaches back to Old English "-iġ" and Middle English "-y," a small familiar-sounding ending that was used to create pet names and everyday nouns.

Synonyms: bookmaker, gambler