HOW THE GAME OF BILLIARDS BECAME KNOWN AS 'POOL'

THE CONCEPT OF POCKET BILLIARDS-THAT IS,USING A STICK TO KNOCK A BALL INTO A HOLE-WAS CONCEIVED AS AN EXTENSION OF THE FRENCH LAWN GAME DURING THE 15TH CENTURY.THE IDEA WAS TO PLACE SEVERAL BALLS UPON A WOODEN SURFACE,THE LENGTH OF WHICHWOULD BE COVERED WITH A GREEN CLOTH.THE TERM 'BILLIARD' WAS DERIVED VIA TWO FRENCH WORDS-'BILLARD',MEANING A CURVED STICK,AND 'BIILLE',MEANING A BALL...

THE MODERN CUE STICK WASN'T INVENTED UNTIL THE 1600'S.PRIOR TO THAT PLAYERS HAD BEEN USING A BLUNT PIECE OF WOOD CALLED A MACE TO NUDGE THE BALL,AS OPPOSED  TO STRICKING IT.A MACE WAS CONSIDERED TOO THICK FOR NEGOTIATING TIGHT CORNERS AROUND A BILLIARD TABLE.AS SUCH,IT WAS REPLACED WITH A SMOOTH AND NARROW CUE,THE ROUNDED POINT OF WHICH ALLOWED FOR MORE DYNAMIC SHOTS.

BILLIARD TABLE BECAME MORE REFINED DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION .THE GREEN FELT SURFACE COMBINED WITH ELASTIC BUMPERS-AND THE INTODUCTION OF CHALK -LED TO SLICK,AND SOMETIMES INNOVATIVE,PLAY.IN AMERICA  AND ENGLAND,A LOT OF BETTING PARLOURS SOON BEGAN TO INSTALL BILLIARD TABLES SO THAT THEIR PATRONS COULD PASS THE TIME BETWEEN HORSE RACES.THESE PARLOURS WERE UNOFFICIALLY KNOWN AS 'POOL ROOMS', GIVEN THAT EVERY GAMBLER WOULD NEED TO FILL OUT A RACING FORM,OR A 'POOL',TO PLACE HIS BETS.THUS,POOL BECAME A SLANG TERM FOR PLAYING POCKET BILLIARDS ,AND THE BETTING PARLOURS EVENTUALLY GAVE WAY  TO MORE LEGITIMATE "POOL HALLS".