Shark

n. [Lat. carcharus, Gr. καρχαρίας, so called from its sharp teeth, from κάρχαρος, with sharp or jagged teeth; Corn. sker'kias.]

1Sense 1. [Ichth.] A cartilaginous fish of the family Squalidæ, comprehending numerous genera, as Carcharias, Scyllium, &c. The body is long, round, and tapering from the head, the surface set with minute osseous granules in place of scales, and the gill-openings (usually five in number) placed upon the sides of the neck. The mouth is below, as in all cartilaginous fishes, but very convex in outline, and set with successive rows of sharp teeth. The pectoral fins are small, and the tail is bent upward, and bears a thick, fleshy fin. The shark is marine, and is found in all but the coldest seas. Some are of great size, and all are carnivorous. The white shark is Carcharias vulgaris, the blue shark, C. glaucus.

2Sense 2. A rapacious, artful fellow; one who fills his pocket by fraud and cheating; a sharper. [Low.]

3Sense 3. Trick; fraud; petty rapine; as, to live upon the shark. [Obs.] South.

Hammer-headed shark, a fish of the genus Zygæna, having projections on the side of the head, which give it somewhat of the form of a hammer; the hammer-head or hammer-fish. See HAMMER-HEAD.