english

• English

Uncertain. It is speculated to relate either to people from England introducing the technique for billiards or bowling in the United States, or perhaps from a particular person with the surname English.[1]

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪŋɡlɪʃ
• Homophone: English

english (uncountable)

1. Spinning or rotary motion given to a ball around the vertical axis, as in billiards or bowling.

   You can't hit it directly, but maybe if you give it some english.

   • 2005, S. Moran, Bronx Boy: Book One of The Zombie Island Trilogy (page 179)

     There was a magical way of putting English on the dice to result in a six.

2. (by extension, figurative) An unusual or unexpected interpretation of a text or idea, a spin, a nuance.
   • 1988, Andre Romelle Young (lyrics and music), “Express Yourself”, in Straight Outta Compton‎, Ruthless Records, performed by Dr. Dre:

     Some drop science, while I'm dropping english.

   • 1993, Thomas Cripps, Making Movies Black‎, page 94:

     Preston Sturgis in his Sullivan’s Travels (1942) put some english on the idea in a bit about a filthy, defeated, white chaingang that is invited to a rural black church for an evening of old movies.

• (spinning motion): side, spin, sidespin

• body English

• Hingles, shingle