masse

Billiard ball bend

Masse refers to a shot in billiards or pool where the cue is held nearly vertical and strikes the ball with a downward motion, causing it to curve sharply around an obstacle.

The technique requires significant spin: He attempted a masse to get around the blocking ball.

The word comes from French, describing the mace-like stroke.

billiards

pool

Collective fund or basin

snookerCue sport with reds
caromAngled deflection shot
eight-ballNumbered black billiard sphere

nine-ball · straight pool · three-cushion · table · felt · cushion · rack · triangle · cue stick · break

technique

cue ball

Unmarked billiard striker

spinRapid rotation around axis
curveSmooth, angleless line
elevationHeight above reference point

swerve · english · sidespin · stroke · follow-through · grip · bridge · stance · chalk · tip

trajectory

arc

Curved line segment

curveSmooth, angleless line
parabolaSymmetrical open plane curve
swerveAbrupt directional change

bend · path · angle · deflection · rebound · carom · bank · collision · pocket · position

Phrases

center of massAverage position of distributed weight
mass incarcerationExcessive imprisonment at scale
mass tourismLarge-scale commercial travel
the massesCommon populace collectively
mass murderKilling multiple people simultaneously
mass mediaLarge-scale communication channels

Family

mass, massive, masses, amass, massing, massively, biomass, massiveness, masseur

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G