Shill
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ʃɪl/
- Rhymes: -ɪl
Origin
Unknown; attested as verb 1914, as noun 1916.
OED
Online Etymology Dictionary
Perhaps an abbreviation of shillaber, attested 1913. The word entered English via carny, originally denoting a carnival worker who pretends to be a member of the audience in an attempt to elicit interest in an attraction.
Speculatively cognate with German Schieber ("black marketeer, profiteer") via *shi-la-ber.
Studies in the history of the English language II: unfolding conversations, by Anne Curzan, Kimberly Emmons, p. 90
There are some suggestions that it originates in the surname Shilaber or Shillibeer, especially George Shillibeer,
The name's familiar II, by Laura Lee, p. 294
but proposed origins are dubious as the word is first attested in North America in the 20th century, while proposed models are 19th century British.
Full definition of shill
Noun
shill
(plural shills)- A person paid to endorse a product favourably, while pretending to be impartial.
- 1983, Robert Anton Wilson, Prometheus Rising,Witnesses have testified that Jim Jones (like a few other professional faith-healers) used shills part of the time....
- An accomplice at a confidence trick during an auction or gambling game.
- 1994, Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing,The pitchman swept his cane in a slow acceleration over the heads of the crowd and then suddenly pointed the silver cap toward Billy and the shill.
Verb
- (pejorative) To promote or endorse in return for payment, especially dishonestly.
- 1996, Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World,Today there are even commercials in which real scientists, some of considerable distinction, shill for corporations. They teach that scientists too will lie for money. As Tom Paine warned, inuring us to lies lays the groundwork for many other evils.
- To put under cover; to sheal.
- (UK, obsolete, dialect) To shell.