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1.) The leather tip lost its effectiveness when it became shiny with use and had to be replaced frequently. An English billiards teacher, Jack Carr, learned that putting chalk on the tip prevented miscues. He was also evidently the first player to hit the ball off-center to apply spin.

Carr was a genuine hustler. He traveled around Europe during the 1820s, giving his demonstrations and selling his magical "twisting chalk" at an exorbitant price, throwing in a free lesson on how to make it work. As a result, the term "English" entered the lexicon of billiards--although, ironically, it's called "side" in England.

2.) "Put some english on it" - add side-spin, distort, deceive (when striking or throwing a ball in sport, or metaphorically when communicating something) - an expression with 19th century American origins (Mark Twain apparently used it c.1870), alluding to, and based on the practice in English billiards of imparting spin to a ball. The expression is commonly used in American pool. A ball that drops into a pocket with the aid of spin - generally unintended - is said to 'get in english'.

The use of the word English to mean spin, may also have referred to the fact that the leather tip of a billiard cue which enables better control of the ball was supposedly an English invention.

The expression additionally arguably refers to the less than straight-forward nature of certain English behavior as perceived by some Americans. 'English' therefore means spin in both of its senses - literal and now metaphorical - since 'spin' has now become a term in its own right meaning deceptive communication, as used commonly by the media referring particularly to PR activities of politicians and corporates, etc.

'Body English' is a variation, and some suggest earlier interpretation (although logically the 'spin' meaning would seem to be the prior use), referring to a difficult physical contortion or movement.

There are debates as to whether 'English' when used for these meanings should be capitalized or not: almost certainly the convention to capitalize (by virtue of English being derived from a proper noun) will continue to diminish (much like the use of capitals in very many other expressions too, eg., double-dutch).

3.) Spin was originally called "side" or "twist" or "screw". The term "english" was not used to describe this until the 1870s, presumably because English players were the first to use the new technique in America. In England it is still referred to as "side" and "screw" to mean backspin or draw.

Interesting question!

LAG