Like all other sports, the Billiards also has its own terms. There are a lot of terms that are used in Billiards. These terms are as follows:

Billiards - This is the name of the game. It has some differences with other similar games. It has a bigger table than Snooker and the colour of the balls are also different.

Distraction - This is a term that prevents the non-striker to do anything that can distract the striker.

Double - The term `Double` is used when the striker enters a ball into the pocket after striking one or more cushions.

Draw shot - is a shot where the players apply draw to the cue ball that is stroked.

Duration - This is the term that indicates about how long the play is going to last. The play can last in an agreed length of time or until one player or a side reaches an agreed number of points. In Billiard, a game is known as a Frame.

Follow - This is an opposite shot of the Draw Shot. This is a stroking technique where the player is allowed to make the cue ball "follow" in the same general direction as the object ball after it strikes an object ball. Players apply this shot by striking the cue ball above center.

Free ball - Here, if a player plays a foul shot and snookered his opponent then his opponent can nominate any coloured ball as red or as the ball `on`. If he pots the nominated ball as a red, he scores 1 and then after that he can nominate a colour in the normal way.

Frozen ball - When a ball rests against another ball or a cushion, it is referred to be `Frozen`.

Game - In Billiards, a game is made up of a number of frames that is decided by the organisers of the tournament. The World championship final usually is made up to 35 frames.

Half-ball shot - The Half-ball Shot is a contact where half the cue-ball covers half the object-ball at the moment of impact.

Hazard - The term `Hazard` means a pot, an in off or the combination of both.

Head of table - This is a short rail where the manufacturer`s nameplate is marked. This opposes the foot of table that is unmarked by the manufacturer`s nameplate.

Head string - This is a line that runs from the second diamond on the side rails through the head spot. The officials call the area between the head string and the head of the table as " within the head string" or as a "balk`.

Hold - This term usually turn over English. This is normally applied to a cue ball that tends to hold the cue ball back from the course that the ball normally would take. It is driven in a certain direction.

Inning - This term means a turn of a player at the table. This is the duration that a player stays at the table from the time he officially makes the first shot. The `Inning` lasts until the player ends his turn either by missing, fouling or scoring the maximum number of balls allowed or by concluding the game.

In-off - The `In-off` is a scoring shot where the cue-ball enters a pocket after contacting an object-ball. Traditionally, it is called as a losing Hazard.

Kiss Canon - If the cue ball touches the two object balls lightly and softly, a cannon or carom is achieved.

Lighting - In order to make the Billiard tables well lighted, some special lighting equipments are normally used.

Line-up - This is terms is used to refer to a pocket billiard game. This is also used to indicate about a method of spotting balls in game of line-up.

Live Ball - The `Live Ball` is a ball that is being played under the rules. The cue ball is also called as `Live Ball` when it is in live action. It is opposite to a dead ball.

Long in-off - This term is used to refer an in-off shot that is played into a top pocket when the cue-ball is in hand. This is called as a long loser as well.

Loser - If any striker manages to pocket his own ball after touching it with any of the object balls then it is called as `Loser`. Here, points are scored in favour of the striker. If the loser is off the red ball, 3 points are scored and it will be 2 points if the loser is off the white ball.

Miss - if a player fails to strike any object on the table, then it is called as a `Miss`.

Natural angle - This is an angle that the cue ball may take after it strikes an object-ball at a medium pace and it does not receive any spin, side, screw, or stun.

Nurse - The term `Nurse` refers to a technique of the game. This technique allows the player to keep balls in position in order to score consecutively.

Object Ball - This is a ball that is aimed by the player with his own ball. It is one of the 15 balls that are of red or other six colours. The cue ball is always intended to hit the `Object ball`.

Officials - In any tournament of any sport, there are some referees who control the game. In Billiards also, there is a referee to control the game and he is the sole judge of fair play as well. Sometimes, he is assisted by the marker, who keeps the score.

On the black - If in any stage of the game, there are less than 7 points between the players and only the black coloured ball is left on the table, the game is referred to be `On the Black`. In this case, if the black is potted or if any player commits a foul by missing the black or going in-off, the game ends.

Plant - This is such a position where the player plays the first object-ball on to the second object-bal in such a way that he is going to make the second ball enter the pocket.

Pocket - There are six open-mouthed pouches in the Billiard table where the object balls are stroked. Each of these pouches is called the `Pocket`. These openings are located in each corner of the table and one in each side cushion, halfway between the end cushions.

Pot - `Pot` is the main scoring shot of the game. Here, the player sends an object-ball into a pocket with the help of the cue-ball. This shot is traditionally referred as a winning hazard.

Potting - playing a `Pot` successfully is called `Potting`. Here, the player`s cue-ball hits anyone of the object-balls and the object ball goes into any of the pockets.

Push stroke - This term refers a foul shot. The officials refer a shot as `Push Stroke` when the player keeps the cue in contact with the cue ball after the ball begins to move forward or it strikes an object ball.

Pyramid - This is the triangular placement of the object balls in Billiard games. Here, the balls are racked in a triangle on the foot spot to start the game. This placement is called so as it is similar to the structure of the Egyptian Pyramids.

Rail nurse - This term is used to indicate about a technique. In this technique, the player is allowed to `nurse` the balls along the rail so that he can keep them in position and score consecutively.

Red ball - This is the name of a carom game in which it is required that the red ball is the first object on all shots during the game. It also refers the object ball that is used in carom games, snooker, etc.

Referee - `Referee` is the official person who controls the game totally. He has a lot of activities in the game like giving rulings, resetting the balls, calling the scores, etc.

Rests - Sometimes the players enjoy the facility to use a `Rest` in order to support the cue for a shot.

Reverse - In the English Billiards, the players apply back spin to the cue ball so that when it hits a cushion or another ball, it tends to stop and rebound.

Rotation - This is the name of a pocket game where the player has to drive the cue ball against the object balls in numerical order. This also refers the sequence of play where two or more players are involved. This is called as "rotation of play".

Run - If any player scores or counts consecutively in one inning, this is called as `Run`.

Run Through - This term refers a stroke that keeps the cue ball moving after hitting an object ball. The term can also be referred to the result of such a stroke.

Safe Position - is such a situation where a scoring stroke looks almost impossible.

Safety Shot - If the player plays a shot with no intention of scoring, but to prevent his opponent from scoring Scoreboard - Like all the other sports, in Billiard also the `Scoreboard` means a board where the score is recorded and that shows units, tens and hundreds.

Scoring - `Scoring` means the occurrence when the striker scores points in order to win hazards, losing hazards, and cannons. All points accumulated in a shot are counted.

Screw - The term refers the art with which the reverse spin is applied. This is a back-spin that is put on to a cue ball and make it come back after hitting the object ball.

Set - This term refers such a position where two object balls are touching in such a way that the second ball will surely be potted no matter how the player strikes the first object-ball.

Set-up - This is the name of a very easy shot in Billiard.

Shot - This term is usually applied to the roll of the cue ball as it approaches to the second object ball in carom games. A ball starts spinning if it comes off the last cushion at a sharp angle.

Shot to nothing - This is a shot where a player attempts to pot a ball in such a way that he is trying to leave himself in a position to continue his break if successful. He also tries to leave the cue-ball in a bad position so that his opponent becomes unsuccessful.

Snooker - This term refers a position where the cue ball cannot hit an object-ball directly as there remains an intervening ball.

Spotting - When the referee replaces the balls on the table as a requirement of the game, the replacement called as `Spotting`.

Starting play - This is a process where a coin is tossed by the referee in the air to decide who will play first. When the game begins, the starter plays the "D" at any red ball.