shadow n.
1. (US) a plain-clothes detective.
 | Keowee Courier (Pickens, SC) 25 Dec. 1/5: Soon after his arrival [...] the shadow followed him. [...] He walked about the town [...] the shadow was behind him. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | N.Y. Times 30 Nov. 1/6: Officers Hogan and Clark, of the Chief’s ‘shadows’. | |
| N.Y. Times 19 May 5/1: It is the duty of the ‘shadow’ to follow him in, if he can do so without being ‘dropped on,’ (noticed by the clerk), to see how much money he spends, if any. | |
| Galaxy (N.Y.) Mar. 188: That is the room where the ferrets of the house who assume the name of detectives, but are more significantly called ‘shadows,’ are hidden from the prying eyes of the world. [Ibid.] 190: [...] That is to say, the husband’s man informs the wife she is watched, and gives her a minute description of her ‘shadow,’ for which information he of course gets an adequate reward, which the wife’s man likewise earns and receives by doing the same kindly office for the husband. | |
| ‘Lady Kate, the Dashing Female Detective’ in et al. Old Sleuth’s Freaky Female Detectives (1990) 24/1: ‘You’re late, “pard”.’ ‘Had a shadow over me.’ ‘Did you drop it?’ ‘Yes.’. | |
| Chanute Times (KS) 12 Oct. 3/4: When a criminal loses his shadow the detective is apt to be puzzled. | |
| Cameron Co. Press (PA) 29 Mar. 6/3: A ‘shadow’ was placed on the house and its occupants . | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Queenslander 22 Feb. 44/4: One of the cleverest ‘shadows’ was put on his trail. | |
| Eve. Star (Wash., DC) 13 Dec. 47/1: The ‘shadow’ [...] is one of the most important and least written of personalities in the sphere of crime detection. | |
| It’s a Racket! 237: shadow—A detective, or a criminal’s assistant, who follows a suspect, or a prospective victim, to learn his movements and habits. | |
| Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 166: Shadow.–One who follows or keeps under surveillance; usually applied to a police officer or detective. | |
| We Are the Public Enemies 153: The shadow got into a second taxi. | |
| World’s Toughest Prison 817: shadow – One who follows or keeps under surveillance. | |
| One Police Plaza 61: Braxton has a shadow. |
2. (UK Und.) a pimp, male or female.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Low-Life Deeps 63: The shadder. That was the shadder, that woman that was with her [...] They’re no more their own mistresses than galley-slaves are. |
3. (US) a derog. term for a black person.
| Growing Up in the Black Belt 259: Black youth are called by such derisive names as ‘Snow,’ ‘Gold Dust Boys,’ ‘Blue Gums,’ ‘Midnight,’ ‘Shadow,’ ‘Haint,’ ‘Dusty,’ ‘Polish,’ and ‘Shine.’. | |
| ‘Razorback Sl.’ in AS L:1/2 65: shadown Black (derogatory, white use). | |
| Lang. of Ethnic Conflict 47: Color Allusions, Other than ‘Black’ and ‘Negro’: […] shadow. |
In compounds
(US prison) a room in which suspects or habitual criminals are placed by the police for viewing by witnesses.
| Missouri Crime Survey 50: ‘The ‘shadow-box’ or ‘show-up’ room, for the exhibition of police characters. |
(orig. milit.) stew.
| Yorks Eve. Post 16 Oct. 5/4: The jargon of the ‘Tommy’ [...] is a never-ending source of wonder to canteen workers and barmaids [...] The nourishing stew which is served in the Army is mis-named ‘shadow broth’. |