a person who makes a business of accepting the bets of others on the outcome of sports contests, especially of horse races.
2.
a person who makes books.
Origin
1375-1425;late Middle Englishbokmakere. See book, maker
Related forms
bookmaking, noun, adjective
Examples from the web for bookmaker
If you don't know how to calculate risks, go and learn from a bookmaker.
British Dictionary definitions for bookmaker
bookmaker
/ˈbʊkˌmeɪkə/
noun
1.
a person who as an occupation accepts bets, esp on horseraces, and pays out to winning betters
Derived Forms
bookmaking, noun
Word Origin and History for bookmaker
n.
also book-maker, 1510s, "printer and binder of books," from book (n.) + agent noun from make (v.). The wagering sense is from 1862. Related: Book-making (late 15c., betting sense 1824).