Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A fee charged for the placement of bets by an illegal gambling broker or establishment.
  • noun Frequent and excessive interest payments charged by an illegal moneylender.
  • noun The payment of such fees or interest.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable, slang A charge taken on bets, as by a bookie or gambling establishment.
  • noun uncountable, slang The interest on a loan of money, especially for loans made by a usurer or loan shark.
  • noun countable, slang An amount owed on account of or payment of a bookie's charge or of interest.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest
  • noun a percentage (of winnings or loot or profit) taken by an operator or gangster

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Yiddish slang, from Russian vyigrysh, winnings : vy-, out; see ud- in Indo-European roots + igrat', to play.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Yiddish slang, from the Russian выигрыш (vyigrysh, "winnings").

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Examples

  • But maybe that 3.6% is the "vigorish" -- i.e., the house's take.

    From the WSJ Opinion Archives 2007

  • They earn money by charging a commission, also known as a vigorish.

    In Las Vegas, Odds Favor Novelty Bets Alexandra Berzon 2011

  • Sports books prefer an even amount of betting on both teams to mitigate risk, because they make an additional amount (called vigorish) on losing bets.

    Casinos Edgy 2008

  • The interest, or "vigorish," on whatever he'd borrowed.

    The Devil's Bedpost 2010

  • The interest, or "vigorish," on whatever he'd borrowed.

    Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine 2003

  • The extra ten percent provides the commission, which is referred to as the juice, vigorish, or vig.

    Introduction to sport-betting Azmie aka switch image 2009

  • If the loan amount was $1,000, then the borrower had to pay $50 weekly in “vigorish,” or interest, until the entire principal was repaid.

    Kill the Irishman Rick Porrello 2011

  • If the loan amount was $1,000, then the borrower had to pay $50 weekly in “vigorish,” or interest, until the entire principal was repaid.

    Kill the Irishman Rick Porrello 2011

  • If the loan amount was $1,000, then the borrower had to pay $50 weekly in “vigorish,” or interest, until the entire principal was repaid.

    Kill the Irishman Rick Porrello 2011

  • The extra ten percent provides the commission, which is referred to as the juice, vigorish, or vig.

    Archive 2009-04-01 Azmie aka switch image 2009

Comments

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  • A contender for the "that suffix doesn't mean what you think it does" award, along with contumely and ruthless.

    October 20, 2011

  • This one is going on my Slavonicisms list.

    October 20, 2011