noun
shylock
SHEYE-lok
Shylock (noun) means a person who lends money at extremely high, often illegal, interest rates. Example: “He borrowed from a shylock to cover his gambling debts.”
noun
1
A person who lends money at extremely high, often illegal, interest rates.
"He borrowed from a shylock to cover his gambling debts."
verb
1
To lend money at extortionate rates of interest.
"The loan shark shylocked struggling business owners."
"Do you recall this question having been put to you—the shylocking business you were involved in continued right up until the time that you were arrested, correct?"
— John Nicholas Iannuzzi, Handbook of Cross Examination: The Mosaic Art (2011)
"When you've accumulated a good stash of money, you may want to go into the nightclub business, or shylocking. Shylocking is free. There is no ten percent vig on loan sharking."
— Tom Layne, The Assassination of Rush Limbaugh (2005)
"Lori said it sounded outright felonious, but Dad said all he was doing was outsmarting the fat-cat bank owners who shylocked the common man by charging usurious interest rates."
— Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle (2005)
How to use shylock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA loan shark, or to act like one by charging exploitative interest.
Common mistake
The term originates from an antisemitic stereotype in Shakespeare's play; many now consider it offensive and avoid it in favor of "loan shark."
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Word forms
- Plural
- shylocks
- Third person singular
- shylocks
- Past tense
- shylocked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He borrowed from a _____ to cover his gambling debts.
Etymology
From Shylock, the moneylender character in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “shylock” mean?
The word “shylock” means a person who lends money at extremely high, often illegal, interest rates. In plain terms, a loan shark, or to act like one by charging exploitative interest.
How do you pronounce “shylock”?
“Shylock” is pronounced SHEYE-lok (/ˈʃaɪlɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “shylock” in a sentence?
Here is “shylock” used in a sentence: “He borrowed from a shylock to cover his gambling debts.”
What part of speech is “shylock”?
Depending on how it is used, “shylock” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “shylock” have?
“Shylock” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who lends money at extremely high, often illegal, interest rates.
