Definition of Knuckle

This is the white ball in carom games which is separated from the clear ball by a marking (usually a dot or spot).

1.A (usually unmarked) line running across the table between one diamond and its corresponding diamond on the opposite rail. See also head string, foot string, long string for examples.
2.Same as wire, sense 2. Can be used as a verb, as in "string that point for me, will you?"
3.A successive series of wins, e.g. of games or frames in a match or race.
4.Chiefly British; same as lag.

This is a shot that is meant to remove one of your opponent's balls that lies near their pocket in the game of one pocket.

Linen made from flax and produced in Ireland which is often used to wrap the gripping area of the butt of a cue.

Having the cue ball stop precisely where intended.
Having the cue ball stop at or near the center of the table on a forceful break shot (the breaking ideal in many games such as nine-ball);

To create contact with the cue ball or an object ball.

Toward the head of the table. This is the playing area on the table above the middle pockets. The idea in an up table game is that shots are more difficult and further from the pockets in one pocket pool.

In pool, the degree to which racked balls move apart upon impact by the cue ball as a result of a break shot.
In snooker, a shot sending the cue ball into the pack of red balls and separating them (after potting the ball-on). At least one split is usually necessary in each frame, since the original triangle of reds does not allow any balls to be potted reliably.

A unit of scoring, in games such as snooker and straight pool with numerical scoring.
A unit of scoring, in team matches in leagues that use numerical scoring instead of simple game/frame win vs. loss ratios.
Another term for knuckle / tittie.

A game of pool played on a table shaped like a rectangle, with or without pockets.

A short and loose stroke performed in a manner similar to the way one throws a dart; usually employed for a jump shot. See also nip draw.

This is English that turns into running action after contact with the object ball. This will open up the angle on a bank.

A well calculated successful slop shot that is usually hit a little harder than it should be and results in a pocketed ball or two without any fouls.

This is a version of double elimination tournament play that splits the field of competitors into two brackets that come together for a single elimination championship game.

This is a series of angled rails present within some pool tables that directs pocketed balls to a central location on the table for retrieval after the game.

The white ball struck by the cue (and so used to strike other colored, numbered, object balls) during play.

In one pocket pool this means that you change your play based on where the count is during the game. If you are ahead you might choose more conservative shots, and if you are behind you could choose more aggressive shots.

When an opponent either purposely successfully executes a defensive shot or misses their shot resulting in a bad leave for the next player.
Example: "I was left bad every time he missed his shot".

The sides of a table's frame upon which the elastic cushions are mounted. May also be used interchangeably with cushion.

Either of the two shorter rails on a standard pool, billiards or snooker table. Contrast side rail/long rail.

The Billiards World Cup Association. The Billiards World Cup Association (BWA) was a governing body for carom billiards, like its competitor and successor, Union Mondiale de Billard. After staging several three-cushion billiards championships, BWA met its demise in 2004 due to financial problems and failing relations with the UMB, leaving the latter as the only carom governing body.

This is to watch a match with such intensity that there is worry, usually because of a wager on the game.

A shot where the cue ball must hit the object ball so as to make it travel out of a straight line, at a different angle, toward its destination.

Chiefly British. This is a shot in a snooker game where the first object ball hit contacts another object ball and the second one is pocketed. If both of the balls are red, or if the second ball would be on if the first ball had not been deemed free then it is an allowed shot.