Meaning:
Someone who is skilful at playing or manipulating cards, or one who makes a
living by cheating at cards.
Background:
`Card-sharp', sometimes written `cardsharp', might be thought to be a
misspelling of `card-shark'. The latter is the more commonly used of the two
synonymous phrases, especially outside the UK, which is one of the few
countries to prefer `card-sharp'. It is sometimes suggested that one term
derived from the other. There's no clear evidence to support that view,
although if it is the case then it must have gone from `sharp' to `shark' as
`card-sharp' appears to be the older term.
Both `card-sharp' and `card-shark' originated in the 19th century. There is a
1594 painting by the Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi (Caravaggio) called
`The Cardsharps'. Of course, Caravaggio didn't title his paintings in English
and it isn't clear when it was given its Anglicized name - probably not until
well into the 20th century.
Such tricksters were also known as `broadsmen' or `spielers' and
`card-sharping' was also called `Greekery' - a derogatory term that probably
wouldn't get past the political-correctness lobby these days.
The reason for thinking that `card-sharp' and card-shark' may be independent
coinages is the existence of the two much earlier words `sharping' (swindling
or cheating - circa 1692) and `sharking' (cheating, stealing or sponging -
circa 1608). These terms for deceitfulness have been adopted into other
phrases, for example `sharp practice' and `loan shark'. Tricksters were
called both `sharps' and `sharks' well before the 19th century, which makes
the separate coinages entirely plausible.
...
It seems over generous to have two almost identical terms for the same thing
and in time no doubt one will do to the other - probably `card-shark' to
`card-sharp' - what grey squirrels have done to red squirrels. Until then,
vive la diff ence.
- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]
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Years ago, I watched an episode of "Shark Tank" where they flogged a hoodie that
can be inverted into a backpack. I needed neither but the name of the show
stuck. I'd always thought the 'shark' here refers to the fish. Maybe it does but
Mr. Martin's entry on "card-sharp" shed another light on the word, of which the
creator of the show must have been aware.
Many a movie grip the audience with cheap scenes of cloak-and-dagger card games.
These films fully exploit man's gambling yen. The higher the stake, the larger
the crowd, the more rivetted is everyone. I don't think they need to hire real
card sharks to shoot such clips.
