During the nineteenth century, off-track gamblers would often play billiards while waiting to hear the results of a horse race.
Sometimes, if they agreed on the merits of a particular horse, the gamblers would pool their money in an effort to win a greater amount on one bet or to soften the blow of a loss.
The “pooled” money, both bet and won, was counted out on the playing surface of the billiard table, which the gamblers came to call their “pool table.”
That’s why billiards is played on a “pool table”.
Related Posts
-
Where does the phrase “table d’hôte” come from and What does table d’hôte mean?
Lifted directly from the French over three hundred years ago, table d'hôte literally means "the host's table." The original sense was that of a common table set for the guests at a hotel…
-
What Does the Word “Masse” Mean, How Did the Term Originate, and What Is a Masse Pool Shot?
A "masse" shot in pool is required when a ball is between the cue ball and the one a player is required to hit. To strike the target ball, a spin on the…
-
What diseases can you get when swimming in a lake, river, ocean or pool?
Being bitten by infected ticks and mosquitoes, alas, is not the only germ danger you face while enjoying the great outdoors. In fact, just going for a swim can make you sick, even…
-
Why is the Fork Set On the Left Side At the Table and Where Did the Custom Come From?
When the fork surfaced in the eleventh century, the only eating utensil was a knife, which was used by the right hand to cut and deliver food to the mouth. The left hand…
-
Who Discovered the Periodic Chart of Elements and When was the Periodic Table invented?
When most people think of the chemical elements, they picture Mendeleyev's Periodic Chart of the Elements. This organizational table has served as the one accepted organizing system for the elements that make up…
-
What Am I Supposed To Do When the Waiter Opens the Wine and Places the Cork On the Table?
You’re not expected to sniff it for evidence of moldiness. That’s rare in this day and age. Moreover, when a small amount of the wine is poured for monsieur or madame’s approval, a…
