Shamus

Shamus is an anglicized form of Séamus, the Irish Gaelic equivalent of James, which itself derives from the Latin Jacobus and ultimately from the Hebrew name Yaakov, meaning supplanter or one who follows at the heel. The name entered Irish usage as an adaptation of the New Testament name Iacobus, brought to the British Isles through Christian tradition. Shamus has also taken on a colloquial association with Irish identity in general, and in American slang it became a word for a detective, likely influenced by the prevalence of Irish immigrants in urban police forces. Related forms include Séamus, Seamus, and James.