from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Billiards \Bil"liards\, n. [F. billiard billiards, OF. billart
staff, cue form playing, fr. bille log. See {Billet} a
stick.]
A game played with ivory balls o a cloth-covered, rectangular
table, bounded by elastic cushions. The player seeks to impel
his ball with his cue so that it shall either strike (carom
upon) two other balls, or drive another ball into one of the
pockets with which the table sometimes is furnished.
[1913 Webster]