shamus

sha·mus  (shäms, sh-)

n. Slang

1. A police officer.

2. A private investigator.

---

[Perhaps from the Irish name Seamus, James.]

---

shamus [ˈʃɑːməs ˈʃeɪ-]

n pl -muses

US slang a police or private detective

[probably from shammes, influenced by Irish Séamas James]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

shamus - someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, operative, PI detective - an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public hotel detective, house detective, house dick - a private detective employed by a hotel or retail store inquiry agent - a private detective store detective - a private detective employed by a merchant to stop pilferage