BOWERY SHOT. When the balls played with and at, are jarred together—a pushing shot.
BREAK. The position the balls are left in after the shot.
BURST. A term chiefly used at pin-pool, when a player has exceeded the number which is placed as the common limit to the game, and must, therefore, either retire from the game, or take a privilege of another life.
CAROM. (French, Carombolage.) To hit more than one of the balls on the table with your own. In England this word has been corrupted to "cannon."
COUNT. Is the reckoning of the game. Making a count, is to make a stroke which will add some figures to the player's reckoning.
DISCOUNT. When one player is so much the superior of another, that he allows all the counts made by his opponent to be deducted from his own reckoning, he is said to "discount" his adversary's gains. In "double" and "treble discounts," twice and thrice the amount of his opponent's gains are deducted from the player's score. In no other game but billiards are such immense odds possible. A man of close observation, temperate habits, steady nerves, and large experience, may give almost any odds to an inferior player, and still have a fair chance of success.
DOUBLET or CROSS. When the ball to be pocketed is first made to rebound from the opposite cushion.
FOLLOW. When a player's ball rolls on after another ball which it has impelled forward.
FORCE. When the player's ball retrogrades after coming in contact with another.
FOUL STROKE or SHOT. Any stroke made in violation of the known rules of the game.