poo

n. [ F. poule, properly, a hen. See Pullet. ] [ Written also poule. ] 1. The stake played for in certain games of cards, billiards, etc.; an aggregated stake to which each player has contributed a snare; also, the receptacle for the stakes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A game at billiards, in which each of the players stakes a certain sum, the winner taking the whole; also, in public billiard rooms, a game in which the loser pays the entrance fee for all who engage in the game; a game of skill in pocketing the balls on a pool table. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This game is played variously, but commonly with fifteen balls, besides one cue ball, the contest being to drive the most balls into the pockets. [ 1913 Webster ]

He plays pool at the billiard houses. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In rifle shooting, a contest in which each competitor pays a certain sum for every shot he makes, the net proceeds being divided among the winners. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any gambling or commercial venture in which several persons join. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A combination of persons contributing money to be used for the purpose of increasing or depressing the market price of stocks, grain, or other commodities; also, the aggregate of the sums so contributed; as, the pool took all the wheat offered below the limit; he put $10, 000 into the pool. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Railroads) A mutual arrangement between competing lines, by which the receipts of all are aggregated, and then distributed pro rata according to agreement. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) An aggregation of properties or rights, belonging to different people in a community, in a common fund, to be charged with common liabilities. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pin pool, a variety of the game of billiards in which small wooden pins are set up to be knocked down by the balls. --
Pool ball, one of the colored ivory balls used in playing the game at billiards called pool. --
Pool snipe (Zool.), the European redshank. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Pool table, a billiard table with pockets. [ 1913 Webster ]