Home » Dictionary » pea-shake

pea-shake

pea-shake
 n.— «Many Hoosier Lottery games are patterned after games that have been played in pea-shake houses for years, such as selecting winning combinations of three or four numbers, pull tabs and tickets. People pay 2 cents and more to play, and a winner can collect several thousand dollars. The winning numbers are based on the numbers painted on “peas,” which are like dice but with just one number, 0-9. The peas are shaken from a container at least four times a day at each house.…Police say the pea-shakes, also known as ticket houses, and the poker clubs are magnets for drug dealers, thieves and other criminal activity.» —“IMPD steps up attack on gambling” by Vic Ryckaert Indianapolis Star Mar. 17, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further reading

Cabin Fever (episode #1547)

The adjectives canine and feline refer to dogs and cats. But how does English address other groups of animals? Plus, cabin fever has been around much longer than the current pandemic. That restless, antsy, stir-crazy feeling goes back to the days...

Life of Riley (episode #1533)

Unwrap the name of a candy bar, and you just might find a story inside. For instance, one chewy treat found in many a checkout lane is named after a family’s beloved horse. And: 50 years ago in the United States, some Latino elementary...

Recent posts