/shooh et"/ , n.
a variation of a two-handed game, as backgammon, allowing the participation of three or more persons, in which one player accepts the bets of all the others on the outcome of a game between that player and one other active player, who is permitted to receive advice from the nonplayers.
[ 1885-90; faire la chouette to play alone against a group of opponents (in billiards, etc.), lit., to play the barn owl, perh. alluding to the owl's watchful look ]