shamus
PRONUNCIATION:
(SHAH-muhs, SHAY-) 
MEANING:
noun:1. A private detective.
2. A police officer.
ETYMOLOGY:
Perhaps from Yiddish shames/shammes (sexton, a caretaker at a synagogue), from Hebrew shamash (servant). The spelling of the word has altered from the influence of the Celtic name Seamus (equivalent to James) as many police officers in the US at the time, especially in New York, were Irish. First recorded use: 1925.
