2901: Bookie Nov 30, 2024

The term bookie, meaning someone who manages bets, originates from bookmaster, a professional responsible for keeping financial records. As gambling gained popularity, book became shorthand for the ledger of bets and odds. This narrowed usage led to bookie, a diminutive reflecting the informal nature of the role. The evolution from bookmaster to bookie highlights how language adapts to societal and functional changes.